The energy possessed by an object when it is placed in a position from which, if it were free to do so, it would fall under the influence of gravity. If the object is free to fall, then the gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic (motion) energy. The gravitational potential energy Ep of an object of mass m kilograms placed at a height h metres above the ground is given by the formula:
where g is the gravitational field strength (in newtons per kilogram) of the Earth at that place.
In a hydroelectric power station, gravitational potential energy of water held in a high-level reservoir is used to drive turbines to produce electricity.