Potential Energy Calculator
Calculate potential energy instantly in your browser — the published formula, worked locally with no data sent anywhere.
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What this tool does
Calculate potential energy instantly in your browser — the published formula, worked locally with no data sent anywhere. Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
How to use the Potential Energy Calculator
- Enter or select type.
- Enter or select mass in lb.
- Enter or select height above reference in ft.
- Enter or select spring constant k (n/m).
- Enter or select stretch / compression (m).
- Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.
Formula
Gravitational: PE = m·g·h (mass converted lb → kg, height ft → m, g = 9.80665 m/s²). Elastic: PE = ½·k·x² stored in a stretched or compressed spring.
- mode
- Type
- mass
- Mass (lb, before metric conversion)
- height
- Height above reference (ft, before metric conversion)
- k
- Spring constant k (N/m)
- x
- Stretch / compression (m)
Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
Worked example
For potential energy calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Type: grav; Mass: 10; Height above reference: 10; Spring constant k (N/m): 200; Stretch / compression (m): 0.1.
Inputs
- TypeGravitational (mgh)
- Mass10 lb
- Height above reference10 ft
- Spring constant k (N/m)200
- Stretch / compression (m)0.1
Result
- Gravitational potential energy (J)135.58
- Potential energy (ft·lbf)100
- Mass (kg)4.54
- Height (m)3.05
Results explained
- Gravitational potential energy (J)
- Gravitational potential energy (J) from the formula above. Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
- Potential energy (ft·lbf)
- Potential energy (ft·lbf) from the formula above. Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
- Mass (kg)
- Mass (kg) from the formula above. Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
- Height (m)
- Height (m) from the formula above. Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
Frequently asked questions
Gravitational: PE = m·g·h (mass converted lb → kg, height ft → m, g = 9.80665 m/s²). Elastic: PE = ½·k·x² stored in a stretched or compressed spring.
Gravitational PE is measured relative to the reference level you choose (h = 0 there) and can be negative below it. The elastic formula assumes an ideal Hookean spring within its elastic limit.
Every field is labelled with its unit — enter values in exactly the labelled unit and read the result in the labelled output unit. Fields with a unit symbol also support the site-wide imperial/metric switch, which converts before the formula runs.
It uses double-precision arithmetic and the published constants and formulas named on this page. The last displayed digit may be rounded, and real conditions can differ from the idealized model described in the assumptions.
Yes. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser; nothing you enter is uploaded, stored or shared.