Disequilibrium · disequilibrium:gravitational-potential-difference

Gravitational potential difference

Mass held above a lower level in a gravitational field. Water behind a dam or the tide against the shore.

symbol ΔhClassical mechanicsenergy form gravitationalexergy positivealso: head, elevation difference, falling water, rain, waterfall

Atlas record: 3 claims reference this disequilibrium — 2 established and 1 demonstrated.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

3claims37enumerated routes5routes with complete-composition evidence13candidate routes not searched2cited sources

Relations

drives · 3

Gravitational potential difference—drives→Droplet contact electrificationdemonstrated

falling droplets (rain) supplying the impact and spreading

Gravitational potential difference—drives→Gravitational descent of fluidestablished

Gravitational potential difference—drives→Tidal flowestablished

coastal geometry that funnels the tidal range into a current or a head

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

C.01 Thermoelectric C.02 Thermionic C.03 Thermoacoustic C.04 Pyroelectric C.05 Thermogalvanic C.06 Thermomagnetic C.07 Thermophotovoltaic C.08 Heat engine (thermomechanical)C.09 Caloric (magneto/electro/elasto)C.10 Piezoelectric C.11 Flexoelectric C.12 Triboelectric C.13 Electrostatic (variable capacitance)C.14 Electromagnetic induction C.15 Magnetostrictive C.16 Magnetoelectric C.17 Spin caloritronic C.18 Photovoltaic C.19 Photoelectrochemical C.20 Photothermal C.21 Electrochemical C.22 Osmotic / salinity-gradient C.23 Electrokinetic C.24 Turbomachinery C.25 Magnetohydrodynamic C.26 Radiovoltaic C.27 Nuclear heat C.28 Rectenna C.29 Thermochemical C.30 Biological C.31 Fluctuation / information-driven C.32 Photon momentum C.33 Thermodiffusive C.34 Marangoni C.35 Acoustoelectric C.36 Photodiffusive C.37 Thermo-osmotic C.38 Electrohydrodynamic C.39 Radioluminescent C.40 Thermopolarization

Enumerated routes through this · 37 (showing 24)

Droplet-based electricity generator2/3 est · demonstrated
Waterwheel (mechanical)3/3 est · demonstrated
Waterwheel electric generator (pico hydro)5/5 est · demonstrated
Hydroelectric plant7/7 est · demonstrated
Tidal stream plant7/7 est · demonstrated
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Hydraulic pressure → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Ocean wave motion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work4/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Streaming potential → Ionic current → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Magnetohydrodynamic generation → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Electrohydrodynamic generation → Fluid-borne space charge → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/5 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Ocean wave motion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work4/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Streaming potential → Ionic current → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Magnetohydrodynamic generation → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Tidal flow → Bulk fluid flow → Electrohydrodynamic generation → Fluid-borne space charge → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Hydraulic pressure → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · candidate
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Electrostatic induction (variable capacitance) → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Reverse electrowetting → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Gravitational potential difference → Gravitational descent of fluid → Bulk fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Resonant vibration → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway

Cited sources · 2

[1]
W. Xu, et al.. A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density (2020)
Nature 578, 392–396 · doi:10.1038/s41586-020-1985-6 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[2]
S. L. Dixon, C. A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery (7th ed.) (2014)
Butterworth-Heinemann · doi:10.1016/C2011-0-05059-7 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Cite this entity

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity disequilibrium:gravitational-potential-difference: Gravitational potential difference. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/e/disequilibrium/gravitational-potential-difference

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