Potential Energy Calculator

PE = mgh is a direct product of mass, gravitational acceleration, and height with no other terms involved -- so height is a simple linear multiplier. Doubling height while holding mass and gravity fixed exactly doubles the calculated potential energy, the same way doubling any single factor in a multiplication doubles the product.

Since PE = mgh and gravity (g) is a direct multiplier, an object at the same mass and height would have roughly 6 times LESS potential energy on the Moon (g about 1.62 m/s^2) than on Earth (g = 9.81 m/s^2) -- the Moon's much weaker gravity means less energy is stored by lifting the same mass to the same height.

Height here is measured relative to whatever reference point (datum) you choose -- the ground, a table top, sea level, or anything else. Potential energy itself is always a relative quantity, not an absolute one, so the calculated value only means something when compared against energy calculated using the SAME reference height.

Joules are the standard SI unit for potential energy, but kilocalories (kcal) are a more familiar energy unit in everyday and nutritional contexts -- the conversion divides the joule value by 4,184 (the number of joules in one kilocalorie), giving the same physical energy expressed in a more relatable unit.