Key Facts — Gravitational Potential Energy
Part of Gravitational Potential Energy — GCSE Physics
This key facts covers Key Facts — Gravitational Potential Energy 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 3 of 16 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 16
Practice
15 questions
Recall
6 flashcards
📚 Key Facts — Gravitational Potential Energy
What it is: Energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field — essentially, how high it is above a reference point.
Key relationships:
- GPE ∝ mass — double the mass, double the GPE (directly proportional)
- GPE ∝ height — double the height, double the GPE (directly proportional)
- GPE ∝ g — same object at same height on Moon has 1/6 the GPE as on Earth
The reference point:
- GPE is always measured relative to something — usually the ground
- What matters is the HEIGHT CHANGE, not absolute position
- An object can have negative GPE if it's below the reference point (e.g., down a well)