A crane lifts a 250 kg load to a height of 12 m. Gravitational field strength g = 9.8 N/kg. Calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy.
[2 marks]
Total for this question: 2
All equation deep-dives
Gravitational potential energy
Energy
AQA 8463
On the equation sheet
ORIGINAL
Ep = m g h
h is the CHANGE in height, and AQA uses g = 9.8 N/kg unless the question says otherwise.
Current GCSE 8463 policy: The full AQA GCSE Physics 8463 equation sheet is provided with both papers in 2026; use fluency practice to learn selection and rearrangement, not to memorise the list.
Board and spec code confirmed against AQA 8463 · registry checked 2026-07-17How this checking works
Know the equation
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ep | gravitational potential energy | J |
| m | mass | kg |
| g | gravitational field strength | N/kg |
| h | change in height | m |
Rearrangements
- h = Ep / (m g)
- m = Ep / (g h)
Apply it — mark your own working
Work each one out on paper first, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the marks you actually earned. That is exactly how you should mark past papers.
Q1
Do the calculation on paper first — then mark it.
Where the marks get lost
- Using the total or final height instead of the CHANGE in height.
- Using g = 10 when the question states g = 9.8 N/kg (or vice versa) — always use the value given.
- Mixing up g (field strength, N/kg) with acceleration; they are numerically equal but the unit in this equation is N/kg.
Exam tip: In energy-transfer questions, GPE gained at the top often equals KE at the bottom (if there is no friction): m g h = 1/2 m v2, and the mass cancels.
Still losing marks on the calculations?
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Stuck on gravitational pe?
Everything here stays free. If gravitational pe is where the marks keep going, I teach it one to one from the mark schemes. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.