101 Lecture Notes - Gravitational Energy, Bungee Jumping, The Coasters
Document Summary
Gravitational potential energy is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field. In simpler terms, it refers to the energy that an object possesses as a result of its position or height above the ground. This energy is stored in the object and can be released as kinetic energy if the object is allowed to fall or move in a particular direction. In this article, we will explain the concept of gravitational potential energy in detail, including its definition, formula, and applications. Gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field. It is a scalar quantity, which means that it only has a magnitude but no direction. The energy stored in an object is directly proportional to its mass, height above the ground, and the strength of the gravitational field it is in.