What happens to gravitational potential energy when an object is raised to a higher level?

When an object is raised to a higher level, its gravitational potential energy increases. This is because gravitational potential energy is directly related to the height of an object above a reference point, usually the ground. The formula for gravitational potential energy is given by ( 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, the gravitational potential energy increases proportionally, since both mass ( m ) and acceleration due to gravity ( g ) remain constant for an object near the surface of the Earth. Consequently, if you lift an object higher, you are increasing its potential energy, as you are doing work against the gravitational force acting on the object.