The gravitational potential energy of an object of mass $m$ at a height $h$ above the Earth's surface (mass $M$, radius $R$) is given by:

1. Potential energy is taken as zero at infinite distance, where gravity does not act. 2. At finite distances the potential energy is less than zero, i.e. negative. 3. At height $h$ the object's distance from the centre is $R + h$. 4. So the gravitational potential energy is $-\dfrac{GMm}{R+h}$; the positive sign and $mgh$ (valid only for small $h$) are wrong here. _Source: Balbharati (Maharashtra Board) Class 10 Science & Technology, Ch 1 "Gravitation", p.22_