in the gravitational field of a particle of mass 
when the distance between the two particles is 
Subject to the conventional choice that 
when 
this is given by
is: the potential energy that a body has by virtue of its position in a gravitational field. [P2.4]
requires for its full definition: a position of zero gravitational potential energy to be arbitrarily chosen, since only differences in gravitational potential energy are physically meaningful.
changes: in going from point A to point B, by an amount equal to the negative of the work done by the gravitational field when the body is moved from A to B. [P3.2]
is exemplified: by the gravitational potential energy of a particle of mass in the gravitational field of a particle of mass when the distance between the two particles is Subject to the conventional choice that when this is given by
where 
is Newton's universal gravitational constant. [P2.4, P3.1, P3.2, P5.2]
is related: to the gravitational potential 
in a region by 
so when a mass 
moves through a gravitational potential difference 
the change in gravitational potential energy 
is given by 
[P3.1, P3.2, P4.1]
often is abbreviated: to gravitational energy. [P3.1, P3.2]
has as its SI unit: the joule (J).
Copyright 1997, The Open University