Question

Which of the following is the equation for gravitational potential energy?

A. PE = mgh
B. PE = mv
C. PE = 1/2(mv)
D. PE = Fd

Answer 1

B is momentum. It's a quantity of motion, or "how much stuff is moving"

C is *almost* kinetic energy but it's missing an exponent of 2 on the velocity, v.

D is an amound of work done in moving something a distance d while applying a constant force F.

That leaves A. This is the potential energy of an object of mass m, in a gravitational acceleration g, at a height h above the reference point (usually the ground)

Answer 2

Answer is A- mgh.

The equation for gravitational potential energy is mgh, where m is the mass in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s ∧2 on Earth), and h is the height above the ground in meters.

Gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field.