Potential Energy Calculator
Raising a 10 kg box by 10 m stores 980.665 J of gravitational potential energy, from PE = mgh with g = 9.80665 m/s².
Standard Earth gravity is 9.80665 m/s²; many textbooks use 9.8 or 9.81.
980.665 J
Full answer, then cut to fewer decimals (not rounded):
- 980.665 J
- 980.66 J
- 980.6 J
- In kJ
- 0.980665 kJ
- In MJ
- 0.000980665 MJ
- In cal
- 234.3845602 cal
- In kcal
- 0.2343845602 kcal
- In Wh
- 0.2724069444 Wh
- Speed after falling h from rest, √(2gh)
- 14.00474919 m/s
Step-by-step solution
- PE = m × g × h
- PE = 10 × 9.80665 × 10
- PE = 980.665 J
Potential Energy Formula
PE = m g h
PE potential energy (J), m mass, g gravitational acceleration, h height above the reference level
Worked Example
Lifting a 10 kg box 10 m on Earth:
- PE = m × g × h
- PE = 10 × 9.80665 × 10
- PE = 980.665 J
In MJ: 0.000980665 MJ · In cal: 234.3845602 cal · In kcal: 0.2343845602 kcal · In Wh: 0.2724069444 Wh · Speed after falling h from rest, √(2gh): 14.00474919 m/s
Pumped hydro storage
One cubic metre of water (1000 kg) raised 100 m stores 980,665 J, about 0.27 kWh. Power stations use this by pumping water uphill when electricity is cheap.
More Energy, Work and Momentum Calculators
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Kinetic Energy Calculator
KE = ½ m v²
KE kinetic energy (J), m mass (kg), v speed (m/s)
Example: A 20 kg object moving at 10 m/s: Kinetic energy KE = 1000 J.
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Work Calculator
W = F d cos θ
W work (J), F force, d displacement, θ angle between force and motion
Example: Pulling a sled 10 m with 50 N at 60° to the ground: Work W = 250 J.
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Power Calculator
P = W / t
P power (W), W work or energy transferred (J), t time (s)
Example: Doing 15,000 J of work in 60 seconds: Power P = 250 W.
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Momentum Calculator
p = m v
p momentum (kg·m/s), m mass, v velocity (a vector: its sign gives the direction)
Example: A 1.5 kg ball moving at 20 m/s: Momentum p = 30 kg·m/s.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the zero of potential energy?
Wherever you choose: only changes in PE matter. Measure h from the floor, the table or sea level, as long as you keep the same reference.
How fast will it fall back?
All of mgh turns into ½mv² without air resistance, so v = √(2gh), shown below the result: about 14 m/s from 10 m.
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures .
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Potential Energy Calculator. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/calculators/potential-energy-calculator/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Potential Energy Calculator," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/calculators/potential-energy-calculator/