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.
Topic position
Section 4 of 16
Practice
15 questions
Recall
6 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 The work you put in (lifting) becomes stored value (GPE) that can be withdrawn later (object falls).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