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Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)

Definition

Gravitational potential energy refers to the energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field. It is the amount of work that would be done on the object if it were moved from its current position to a reference point.

Analogy

Imagine a roller coaster at the top of a hill. The higher up the hill, the more potential energy it has. When released, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as the roller coaster speeds down the hill.

Related terms

Escape Speed: Escape speed is the minimum velocity an object needs to escape from a planet's gravitational pull and not fall back down. It depends on both the mass and radius of the planet.

Angular Momentum: Angular momentum is a property of rotating objects and refers to their tendency to keep spinning unless acted upon by an external torque. It depends on both rotational speed and moment of inertia.

Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on both mass and velocity, with faster-moving objects having more kinetic energy.