📚 Topic Summary
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field. It's the energy stored as a result of the object being raised against the force of gravity. The higher the object is lifted, the more GPE it has. Understanding how to calculate GPE is key to solving many physics problems related to energy and motion. Let's dive into some practice!
The formula for Gravitational Potential Energy is: $GPE = mgh$, where $m$ is mass (in kg), $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately $9.8 m/s^2$ on Earth), and $h$ is the height (in meters).
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Gravitational Potential Energy |
A. The force that attracts objects with mass towards each other. |
| 2. Mass |
B. The energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field. |
| 3. Height |
C. A measure of how much matter is in an object. |
| 4. Gravity |
D. The distance an object is above a reference point (usually the ground). |
| 5. Acceleration due to Gravity |
E. The rate at which objects accelerate towards the Earth (approximately $9.8 m/s^2$). |
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the correct words.
__________ Potential Energy is the energy an object possesses due to its __________. The formula to calculate it is $GPE = __________. $ In this formula, '$m$' represents the __________ , '$g$' represents the __________ due to gravity (which is about $9.8 m/s^2$ on Earth), and '$h$' represents the __________ .
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain, in your own words, how the gravitational potential energy of an object changes as it falls towards the ground. What happens to the potential energy as the height decreases?