Calculate the gravitational potential energy given a mass, a gravitational acceleration, and a height.

Example question:

On Earth a 4.1 kg object is lifted a height of 4.5 m. What is the potential energy due to gravity for this object?

Given:

gravitational acceleration: g = 9.8 m/s/s (on Earth)

mass: m = 4.1 kg

height: h = 4.5 m

Starting formula

Plug in numbers with units

Multiply: (4.1)(9.8)(4.5) = 180.81

Final result with significant figures and unit