In flight mechanics, potential energy refers to the energy possessed by an aircraft due to its position relative to the Earth’s surface. It is one of the two main forms of mechanical energy, the other being kinetic energy. Potential energy arises from the force of gravity acting on the aircraft.
PE = m * g * h
Where:
- PE is the potential energy in joules (J) or foot-pounds (ft-lbf).
- m is the mass of the aircraft in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- g is the acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.81 m/s^2 (32.2 ft/s^2) on the Earth’s surface.
- h is the altitude of the aircraft above the reference point, measured in meters (m) or feet (ft).