Gravitational Potential Energy

Real World Example

Imagine you're trying to carry a heavy grocery bag up a flight of stairs to your apartment. Just as the effort you need increases with each step you climb, an object's gravitational potential energy increases the higher it is lifted above Earth's surface. In this analogy, the grocery bag represents the object, the stairs represent the height above the ground, and your effort mirrors the gravitational potential energy; the higher you go, the more energy is stored, just like how climbing higher requires more of your effort.