CC3

• Gravitational potential energy (GPE)


  Energy that is stored because of an object's position in a gravitational field
• Any object that is above the surface of the Earth contains a store of gravitational potential energy
• Every time something is moved upwards, it stores more gravitational potential energy
• Factors affecting amount of GPE stored

  • Mass of the object
  • Strength of gravity
  • How far the object is moved upwards
• Calculating gravitational potential energy


  1. ΔGPE = m x g x Δh

  2. Where ΔGPE is the change in gravitational potential energy

  3. m is the mass

  4. g is the gravitational field strength

  5. Δh is the change in vertical height
• Kinetic energy


  Energy stored in a moving object
• There are three heavy weights on steel cables inside the Big Ben clock tower. They are lifted up three times a week to store the energy needed to drive the clock and the bells.
• Kinetic energy


  Energy stored in moving objects
• Kinetic energy


  Amount depends on mass and speed
• Gravitational potential energy (GPE)

  Energy stored due to an object's position in a gravitational field
• Birds crack open shells of nuts/animals by dropping them onto stones, storing GPE in the shells