The heavier an object is, the deeper its ‘gravity well’ is. You’ve seen the space-time is a rubber sheet metaphor I hope?
Imagine it like dropping a stone in a literal well. The potential energy is higher on the ground than two meters down the well.
Since we are in the gravity well of a planet (earth) the energy needed to reach escape velocity is a certain value, because we have to climb the walls of the gravity well. A denser planet has a deeper gradient so requires more energy to escape.
Falling down the gravity well requires no energy, but the difference of potential energy in “outer space” and “on the planet” is what you’d experience.
There’s no energy stored per se, when you pump water up into a dam or when you enter orbit, as you expend the energy into work, resulting in a difference of potential energy in two rest states.
Imagine it like dropping a stone in a literal well. The potential energy is higher on the ground than two meters down the well.
Since we are in the gravity well of a planet (earth) the energy needed to reach escape velocity is a certain value, because we have to climb the walls of the gravity well. A denser planet has a deeper gradient so requires more energy to escape.
Falling down the gravity well requires no energy, but the difference of potential energy in “outer space” and “on the planet” is what you’d experience.
There’s no energy stored per se, when you pump water up into a dam or when you enter orbit, as you expend the energy into work, resulting in a difference of potential energy in two rest states.