What is the formula for potential energy?

The formula for potential energy, particularly gravitational potential energy, is expressed as mgh. In this equation, 'm' represents the mass of the object, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² near the Earth's surface), and 'h' is the height of the object above a reference point, often considered as ground level. This relationship illustrates that potential energy increases with greater mass and height, linking the energy stored in an object to its position in a gravitational field.

Although there are other formulas related to different types of energy, such as kinetic energy (1/2mv²) and other variations involving mass and velocity, they do not describe potential energy specifically. The formula for gravitational potential energy is pivotal in physics as it captures the potential for an object to do work due to its position, which is essential for understanding energy conservation and mechanics.