What is the formula for Potential Energy (PE)?

The formula for Potential Energy (PE) is given by PE = m × g × h. In this equation, 'm' represents the mass of the object, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² on the surface of the Earth), and 'h' is the height of the object above a reference point, typically the ground.

This formula indicates that the potential energy of an object is directly proportional to both its mass and its height above the ground. As the mass of the object increases, more energy is stored in the system due to its position. Similarly, as the height increases, the potential energy also increases because the object has the potential to do more work if it were to fall due to gravity.

Ultimately, the formula captures the concept that energy is stored in an object when it is elevated, and thus it's crucial in understanding gravitational potential energy in physics. The other formulas presented relate to different types of energy: kinetic energy (v² term), acceleration and time (but not for gravitational potential energy), and the work done by a force (F × d), which serves a different context in energy calculations.