It may, or may not, be zero, depending on what you use as the reference level. The absolute amount of potential energy is physically meaningless; what matters is a difference in potential energy between two points.
The type of potential energy dependent upon an object's weight and distance from Earth's surface is gravitational potential energy. It is given by the formula: PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object above the reference point.
Gravitational potential energy is: m*g*h m=mass g=acceloration due to gravity h=height in relation to zero level/energy because earth's surface (with rare exception) is zero level/energy, meaning that you cant make things fall further than the surface of earth; the potential energy of an object changes based on how much distance you put between the surface and the object, yes.
There is no absolute measure for potential energy. The calculation for potential energy depends on the chosen reference level. Quite often, the Earth's surface is chosen as the reference level - in this case, an object on the surface will have zero potential energy.
Gravitational potential energy.
The potential energy of an object is dependent on its weight and its distance from Earth's surface due to the gravitational force acting on it. The formula for gravitational potential energy is given by PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object from the reference point.
When you lift an object, you are transferring energy in the form of work done against gravity. This added energy gives the object potential energy, which is stored energy due to its position relative to the earth's surface.
That is called gravitational potential energy.
There is no absolute measure for potential energy. The calculation for potential energy depends on the chosen reference level. Quite often, the Earth's surface is chosen as the reference level - in this case, an object on the surface will have zero potential energy.
The weight and height of an object on Earth give it gravitational potential energy. This type of potential energy is based on the object's position in a gravitational field relative to the surface of the Earth.
That depends on what reference level you have chosen. If the (arbitrary) reference level you chose is Earth's surface, then anything on the Earth's surface has zero potential energy. If you choose some higher reference level, an object on Earth's surface has a negative potential energy. If you choose a lower reference level, an object on Earth's surface would have a positive potential energy.
gravitational potential energy
An object sitting on the ground at sea level has gravitational potential energy due to its position relative to the Earth's surface. This potential energy is determined by the height of the object above the ground and its mass, which gives it the potential to be transformed into kinetic energy if the object falls.