What quantities are necessary to calculate potential energy?

To calculate potential energy, the key quantities involved are mass, acceleration due to gravity, and height. Potential energy is defined by the formula:

[ PE = mgh ]

where ( PE ) represents potential energy, ( m ) is the mass of the object, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² on the surface of the Earth), and ( h ) is the height of the object above a reference point.

Mass is necessary because potential energy increases with the amount of matter in the object; heavier objects have more potential energy when positioned at the same height as lighter objects. The height factor is crucial because the higher an object is situated in a gravitational field, the more potential energy it possesses. This makes both mass and height vital components of the potential energy calculation. Although gravity is a constant in a given location, it's essential for understanding the energy formulation, as it determines the pull exerted on the mass.

The other choices do not encompass all necessary aspects for calculating potential energy. Volume, for example, is irrelevant to the potential energy calculation, and velocity and displacement pertain to kinetic energy, not potential energy. Simply knowing height alone is insufficient, as without the mass and gravitational