Gravitational potential energy

Gravitational potential energy is energy associated with an object's position in a gravitational field. Its value depends on the chosen reference level, while changes in it correspond to work done by gravity.

Gravitational field: A region of space in which masses experience gravitational force. The field assigns gravitational potential energy to an object's position.
Mass: A measure of an object's inertia and its gravitational interaction. In a uniform gravitational field, stored energy scales with the object's mass.
Elastic potential energy: Energy stored when an elastic object is deformed. It depends on deformation, unlike gravitational potential energy's dependence on position in a gravitational field.
Free fall: Motion under gravity alone, with air resistance neglected. During ideal free fall, decreasing gravitational potential energy becomes kinetic energy.
Gravitational force: The attractive force between objects with mass. Moving against this force increases gravitational potential energy.
Height: The vertical distance of a point above a chosen reference level. Near Earth's surface, the energy change is proportional to vertical height change.
Kinetic energy: Energy associated with an object's motion. Falling converts gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy.
Pendulum: A suspended body that swings under gravity about a pivot. Its motion repeatedly trades height-related energy for kinetic energy.
Work (physics): Energy transferred when a force causes displacement. Work done against gravity appears as a change in gravitational potential energy.
Acceleration due to gravity: The acceleration produced by gravity at a location. Its near-surface value sets the gravitational energy change per unit mass and height.

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