What happens to gravitational potential energy when an object is lifted?

When an object is lifted against the force of gravity, it gains gravitational potential energy. This increase in energy occurs because work is done on the object to move it to a higher position. Gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, and it can be calculated using the formula:

[ PE = mgh ]

where ( PE ) is the potential energy, ( m ) is the mass of the object, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity, and ( h ) is the height above the reference point.

As the height ( h ) increases during the lifting process, the potential energy increases proportionally. This energy can be stored and is available for conversion into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy if the object is subsequently dropped. Therefore, the correct answer highlights that the object indeed gains gravitational potential energy when lifted.