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Gravitational potential


The gravitational potential (VG)at a point in a field can be defined in two equivalent ways:
(a) the work done in bringing unit mass (i.e. 1 kg) from infinity to that point or
(b) the potential energy of a unit mass placed at that point in the field with the zero at infinity.

Since the gravitational field is attractive and the zero is at infinity the gravitational potential is negative.

The variation of potential against distance r for a mass M is shown in Figure 1 and is given by the equation:




Gravitational potential (VG) = - GM/r




Close to the surface of the Earth the gravitational field is effectively constant and equal to 9.8 Nkg-1. The gravitational potential therefore increases steadily as the distance above the ground increases (see Figure 2).






Gravitational Potential Energy

The gravitational potential energy of a mass m is the energy required to bring the mass m from infinity to a point on the field. It can be calculated by simply multiplying the gravitational potential at the point by the mass m. It is important not to confuse this with gravitational potential, the gravitational potential energy refers to a mass m and so the gravitational energy at a point in the field distance r from the centre of the mass that is producing the field is:

Gravitational potential energy = mVG = - GMm/r

From the Earth to the Moon!

Using our ideas about potential energy we can sketch the variation of potential between the Earth and the Moon and so predict the effects on a spacecraft on a journey between the two bodies.

On the accompanying graph (Figure 3) the red line represents the potential due to the Earth, the black line the potential due to the Moon and the blue line the combined potential. You can see that there is a peak. To make the journey from one direction or the other you must cross the peak. It therefore takes a lot more energy to reach this if you start from the Earth than if you start from the Moon.


Example problems
When a body is moved from the Earth's surface to a height we can write the change in gravitational potential energy as Δ(p.e.) = + GmMh/[R(R+ h)]

So for a mass of 2 kg moved through 100 m we have:
Δ(p.e.) = [62x107x2x100]/6400x103= 1969 J which is very close to the value obtained using mgh.
 

A VERSION IN WORD IS AVAILABLE ON THE SCHOOLPHYSICS USB
 
 
 
 
© Keith Gibbs 2020