Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is really important when we talk about how energy is saved and used.

In simple words, GPE is the energy an object has because it's up off the ground.

You can figure out GPE using this formula:

$$GPE = mgh$$

Let’s break it down:

• $m$ is the mass, or how heavy the object is
• $g$ is the pull of gravity, which is around $9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2$ on Earth
• $h$ is the height, or how high the object is above the ground

Think about it like this: when you pick up something, like a book, you are doing work, and the book gets GPE.

Now, if you drop that book, the GPE changes into another kind of energy called kinetic energy, which is the energy of movement as the book falls.

This change is really important for understanding energy conservation. This means that energy can't just vanish or appear out of nowhere; it can only change from one form to another.

So, when you're looking at how things move and how high they are, remember that GPE is super important for keeping the energy balanced in any situation!