Gravitational Potential Energy
What is the gravitational potential energy of a mass m at a distance r from the center of Earth (mass M)?
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About This Question
- Subject
- physics
- Chapter
- gravitation
- Topic
- gravitational potential energy
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
-GMm/r
- Definition: The GPE of a point mass m at distance r is the work done by internal gravitational force to bring it from infinity to r.
- Integral Origin: U=∫∞rx2GMmdx=[−GMm/x]∞r.
- Formula: U=−rGMm.
- Key Features:
- The negative sign signifies the attractive (bound) nature of the field.
- Energy is zero at infinity (r=∞).
- As r→0, energy becomes more negative (lower).
This easy difficulty physics question is from the chapter gravitation, covering the topic of gravitational potential energy. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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