Final answer:
To determine the gravitational potential energy of an object, a height position must first be arbitrarily assigned. The surface of the Earth is commonly used as the reference point, but it is arbitrary and can be different depending on the context or problem. The formula to calculate gravitational potential energy is P.E. = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above the reference point.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to determine the gravitational potential energy of an object, a height position must first be arbitrarily assigned. This means that you need to choose a reference point to set the potential energy equal to zero. Commonly, the surface of the Earth is used as the reference point, but it is important to note that this choice is arbitrary and can be different depending on the context or problem.
The formula to calculate gravitational potential energy is P.E. = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above the reference point. By multiplying the mass, acceleration due to gravity, and the chosen height, you can determine the amount of gravitational potential energy possessed by the object.
For example, if you lift a book weighing 2 kilograms to a height of 3 meters above the ground, the gravitational potential energy of the book would be calculated as P.E. = (2 kg)(9.8 m/s²)(3 m) = 58.8 Joules.