Using Potential Gravitation Energy to Generate Light....Possible?

[lvmineoster21]

This question was asked in class today (Thermofluids) and nobody had an answer. Just curious to see if anyone has ideas/methods. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

[NeonBlack]

Of course.

Meteors glow.

The Hoover Dam generates light for Las Vegas.

[Gilded]

Another fine example this are many stellar phenomena involving very massive bodies. Immense amounts of energy are released when something falls or collapses into a black hole for example, and events like this (amongst magnetars) produce some of the most luminous gamma ray bursts in the universe.