The Potential Energy calculator computes the potential energy of a body with a certain mass (m) at rest at a certain height (y).
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
Potential Energy U(y): The calculator returns the potential energy in Joules (J). However this can be automatically converted to other energy units via the pull-down menu.
The formula for Potential Energy is:
where:
The default units for Potential Energy are Joules (J) for potential energy, meters per second (m/s²) for acceleration due to gravity, and meters (m) for vertical displacement.
The default acceleration due to gravity (g) is that of surface of the Earth at Sea Level (9.80665 m/s² ) . The user can override the default with other values.
This equation computes the energy required to move an object to a height. The energy required is equal to the potential energy the object possesses just by being at that height. This is basically one way to store energy -- move it upward to a point where it has potential to be acted on by gravity. We use potential energy when we store water above our towns in elevated storage tanks. We use potential energy when we snowboard down a mountain.
So, if you climb a mountain, or something more well-defined like the famous Manitou Incline (approximately 2000 ft), the energy you must expend to lift your body's weight that distance against the force of gravity (neglecting energy of things like breathing and metabolic processes) is equivalent to the potential energy of your body lifted that distance. The energy spent climbing is equal to the potential energy you have when you have climbed the Incline.
This equation tells you that a 120 lb woman who climbs the Manitou Incline expends minimally about 325,400 Joules of energy. Her potential energy at the top of the Manitou Incline is equivalent to that much energy.
For comparison: