Question

In the equation Ep = m g h, what is represented by Ep? (Hint: your answer should be three words)

Answer 1

The amount of gravitational potential energy stored by an object at height can be calculated using the equation:

Gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height

Ep = mgh

This is when:

gravitational potential energy (Ep ) is measured in joules (J)

mass (m) is measured in kilograms (kg)

gravitational field strength (g) is measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg)

height (h) is measured in metres (m)

Answer 2

$E_{p}$ is gravitational potential energy.

Explanation:

• The energy that an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field is called gravitational potential energy.

• Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object as the result of its vertical position or height.

• The energy is stored as the result of the gravitational attraction of the Earth for the object.

• A direct relation is between gravitational potential energy and the mass of an object. More massive objects have greater gravitational potential energy.

• Also a direct relation is between gravitational potential energy and the height of an object. Higher an object is elevated, greater is the gravitational potential energy.

Expression for potential energy is given as:

$E_{p} = mgh$,

where $m$ is the mass of object, $h$ is the height of object and $g$ is the gravitational acceleration experienced by the object due to gravitation of earth.