This deep dive covers Deep Dive: Work Done and GPE within Gravitational Potential Energy for GCSE Physics. Revise Gravitational Potential Energy in Energy for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 16 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🔬 Deep Dive: Work Done and GPE
When you lift a weight, you do work against gravity. That work doesn't disappear — it's stored as GPE in the raised weight. The higher you lift it, the more work you do, the more GPE it gains.
Think of it like depositing money in a high-interest savings account in the sky. The work you put in (lifting) becomes stored value (GPE) that can be withdrawn later (object falls).
The connection: Work done = Force × Distance
- Force needed to lift = Weight = mg (mass × g)
- Distance = height (h)
- Work done = mg × h = mgh = GPE gained!
💡 This is why the equations are identical: Work done against gravity = GPE gained
Practice questions for Gravitational Potential Energy
What is the value of gravitational field strength (g) on Earth?
Explain how gravitational potential energy is related to an object's mass and height. Refer to the equation Ep = mgh in your answer.