When calculating potential energy, which variable represents the height of the object above a reference point?

The correct choice identifies height with the variable h, reflecting its role in the calculation of potential energy. Potential energy in a gravitational field is given by the formula:

[ PE = mgh ]

In this formula, m represents the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object above a specified reference point. The height, or h, is crucial because it indicates how far the object is displaced vertically from the reference point, influencing the potential energy it possesses due to its position.

Understanding that h is the vertical distance is fundamental for potential energy calculations. As the height increases, the potential energy also increases linearly, assuming mass and gravitational acceleration are constant. This relationship highlights why h is critical to the concept of gravitational potential energy—an object elevated to a greater height can do more work if it were to fall, thereby increasing its potential energy.