Swinging on a swing is a good example of potential and kinetic energy.
The basic formula for potential energy, PE = mgh, is most commonly used in a simple way. To calculate the potential energy (PE) of an object, multiply the mass of the object in kilograms (m) by the Earth’s gravitational constant (g) and the height of the object from the ground in meters (h). The formula can also be manipulated to calculate the value of a missing variable; mass, for example, can be calculated by dividing the object’s potential energy by the gravitational constant and its height, og = PE/gh. Since the potential energy of an object is equal to its kinetic energy in a vacuum, the potential energy formula can also be used to determine its kinetic energy. The same applications can be used for more complicated types of potential energy formulas, such as electrostatic or nuclear potential energy.
The potential energy formula used depends on the type of energy stored.
Most people use the basic iteration of the potential energy formula to determine how much work an object would do if dropped from a fixed height. This allows people to determine the energy generated by an object if it were to experience the simplest form of motion, making it one of the most accurate approximations of the object’s energy capabilities without the added force of a propelling action. The formula convention of using the Earth’s gravitational pull, measured at 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s 2 ), is based on the assumption that the most relevant actions would occur within the planet’s gravitational field. Some scientists prefer to be clear about this distinction, referring to the commonly used formula as the gravitational potential energy formula.
People can use the potential energy formula to determine the potential energy of an object at a fixed height or to calculate the change in its potential energy if the object is transferred to another height. This is done by changing the formula from PE = mgh to PE = mg (h1-h2), where h1 is the maximum height and h2 is the minimum. The change in potential energy can affect various considerations in various fields such as engineering and mechanical design.
Manipulation of the formula can help people identify missing variables. If the height of the object within the system is unknown, the formula can be changed to h = PE/mg, where the height equals the potential energy divided by the mass of the object and the gravitational constant. Since g has a constant value in the equation, there is usually no need to solve unless the object is in a place where the pull of gravity is different.