Kinetic Energy To Gravitational Energy: How to Convert, When, Where, Examples And Facts

In this article, we shall discuss how to convert kinetic energy to gravitational energy and the relation between both.

The kinetic energy provided to the object is converted into the potential energy during its flight as the object raise above the surface. This conversion of the kinetic energy to gravitation energy is possible when the object is in a vertical motion above the ground.

How are kinetic and gravitational energy related?

The kinetic energy is related to the gravitational energy only in the vertical motions.

The gravitational energy stored in the object will increase if the kinetic energy imparted to the object is more. The height to which the object will be displaced depends upon the amount of kinetic energy.

How is kinetic energy converted to gravitational energy?

The kinetic energy of the object decreases as the object goes higher and higher above the surface of the Earth.

The kinetic energy will be converted into the gravitational potential energy, which will tend to bring it back to the surface by exerting the gravitational pull.

When kinetic energy is converted to gravitational energy?

All the objects in motion exert a gravitational pull on them and accelerated based on the effect of gravity.

The kinetic energy is converted to gravitational energy when the object reaches the maximum height in its flight converting all of its kinetic energy imparted into the potential energy.

Where is kinetic energy converted to gravitational energy?

The kinetic energy is converted to gravitational energy as the object moves in the vertical direction with the supplied kinetic energy.

This conversion takes place as the object rises above the surface of the Earth building up the potential energy to overcome the gravitational attraction, but since all the kinetic energy is converted into gravitational potential energy which is not sufficient, the object falls back towards the ground.

Kinetic Energy to Gravitational Energy Formula

The kinetic energy of the object in its flight is

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m is a mass

This kinetic energy is converted into potential energy and attains the maximum energy when the object reaches the maximum height in its flight. This potential energy is equal to the gravitational potential energy of the object which is felt on the body and drags it towards the ground.

The gravitational potential energy of the object is calculated using the formula

U=mgh

Where h is the height of the object from the surface of the Earth

g is the acceleration due to gravity

Kinetic Energy to Gravitational Energy Efficiency

The efficiency is the ratio of the energy utilized from the total energy supplied to do the work.

The efficiency of the kinetic energy to the gravitational energy will be formulated as the ratio of the obtained gravitational energy to the total kinetic energy supplied to the object.

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The efficiency of the object will be maximum if the height of the object from the ground is the greatest that is if the gravitational potential energy stored in the object is more.

Kinetic Energy to Gravitational Energy Examples

Here is a list of kinetic energy to gravitational energy examples:-

Ferries Wheel

On reaching the highest point on the ferries wheel, the person experiences a free fall because the acceleration and force due to gravity are pointing downward in the same direction. The kinetic energy is converted into gravitational energy and the person feels weightless while accelerating down towards the ground.

Roller Coaster

This is the best example here, the kinetic energy of the roller coaster converts into the gravitational energy when it is accelerating down upon climbing the highest point on the coaster.

kinetic energy to gravitational energy
Roller Coaster; Image Credit: pixabay

Ball in the Air

Upon throwing the ball in the air it travels in the two dimensions following the parabolic path. The energy supplied to the ball is utilized to lift the ball against the gravitational force converting its kinetic energy into gravitational potential energy that can resist the force due to gravity.

Food Grain Supplied from the Helicopter

As the bags of the food grains are thrown from the helicopter, the bag accelerates down due to the effect of the gravitational potential energy.

Basketball

The kinetic energy given to the ball while making a throw in the basket is converted back to the gravitational potential energy due to which it accelerates back towards the ground.

Waterfall

The volume of water flowing with the kinetic energy is converted into the gravitational potential energy while making it fall on the ground.

Car Driving Down the Steeper Slope

You must have noticed that the speed of the car automatically increases while driving down the slope. This is due to the gravitational energy acquired by the car.

Skiing

The kinetic energy given to the skiboard is converted to gravitational energy while skiing down the slope.

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Skiing; Image Credit: pixabay

Pendulum

The kinetic energy of the bob is regularly converted into the gravitational potential energy as the bob rises to a certain height as the oscillating angle becomes the maximum.

Lifting Up the Objects

While lifting any object, the muscular force is utilized to give kinetic energy to the object while lifting it. As the object is lifted above the ground, the kinetic energy given to the object is converted into gravitational energy along with the height.

Moon Around the Earth

The momentum of the Moon keeps it in a kinetic motion in the orbit of the Earth both exerting equal magnitude of force on each other. This is the fact why the high tides and low tides are observed on the planet.

Satellites

The satellites revolving around the Earth convert the kinetic energy into the gravitational energy that keeps it in the Earth’s orbit.

Sliders

The gravitational potential energy acquired by the body reaching the great height is again converted into kinetic energy utilizing the gravitational energy.

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Sliders in a park; Image Credit: pixabay

Jumping

While jumping you impose equal force on the ground to lift your body upward. Thus converting the kinetic energy obtained into the gravitational energy.

Trampoline

The elastic potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy lifting the body above the surface of the trampoline and converting the kinetic energy into the gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy vs Gravitational Potential

Gravitational potential energy is the energy acquired by the mass correlated to another object in its vicinity separated by some distance and exerts a gravitational force on each other whereas, the gravitational potential is the work done to displace the object from its location to the reference point.

The gravitational potential energy is given by the formula

U=mgh

It will be maximum if the height of the object from the surface is more. It is in a form of the potential energy of the object which is a stored energy.

The gravitational potential is give as

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Where G is a gravitational constant and r is a distance between the two objects having mass m and M.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the kinetic energy to gravitational energy efficiency if the ball is accelerating with a speed of 3m/s and reaches the height of 18 meters above the ground?

Given: v =3m/s

h =18m

The formula to calculate the efficiency of kinetic energy to gravitational energy is

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The efficiency for the conversion of kinetic energy to gravitational energy in this case is 39.2%.

What is the gravitational potential energy of the object standing 30 meters above the surface and having a weight of 48kg?

Given: m =48kg

h =30m

The gravitational potential energy is

U=mgh

U=48* 9.8* 30=14.1KJ

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