Physics Assignment Help|Gravitational Potential

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G Gr ra av vi it ta at ti io on na al l P Po ot te en nt ti ia al l E En ne er rg gy y
Gravitational Potential Energy: The gravitational potential energy of a
body at a point is defined as the amount of work done in bringing the
body from infinity to that point against the gravitational force.
M
m
r
r
r
2
GMm 1
W dx GMm
x x

(
= =
(

}
GMm
W
r
=
This work done is stored under the object as its gravitational potential energy

GMm
U
r
=
(i) Potential power is a scalar quantity.
(ii) Unit: Joule
(iii) Dimension: [ML
2
T
2
]
(iv) Gravitational potential power is usually negative in the gravitational field because the force
is always attractive in nature.
(v) As the distance r raise, the gravitational potential energy converts less value i.e., it increases.
(vi) If r = then it becomes zero (maximum)
(vii) In case of discrete distribution of masses
Gravitational potential energy
2 3 1 2
i
12 23
Gm m Gmm
U u ........
r r
(
= = + +
(

(viii) If the body of mass m is rotate from a point at a distance r
1
to a point at distance r
2
(r
1
> r
2
)
then change in potential energy
2
2
1
2 1 1 2
GMm 1 1 1 1
U dx GMm or U GMm
r r r r x
( (
A = = A =
( (

}
As r
1
is greater then r
2
, the change in potential energy of the body will be negative. It seems
that if a body is brought closer to earth its potential energy decreases.
(ix) Relation in between potential gravitational energy and potential
GMm GM
U m
r r
(
= =
(

U = mV
(x) Gravitational potential power at the origin of earth relative to infinity.
centre centre
3 GM 3 GMm
U mV m
2 R 2 R
|
= = =
|
'
(xi) Gravitational potential energy of an object at height h from the earth surface is given by
2
h
GMm gR m mgR
U
h
R h R h
1
R
= = =
+ +
+
GRAVITATIONAL SELF ENERGY
It is the energy possessed by a body due to the interactive forces inside the object. This may be
described as the work done in assembling all the particles of a body in a definite shape and size or it
is the work done in creating a body. We can say that if the forces inside the body are attractive, work
done in assembling is done by the body itself and self energy of the body will be negative and if the
forces inside the body are repulsive then some external work will be done in assembling the body
and its self energy will be positive. As gravitational self energy of an object is concerned obviously it
is always negative due to attractive forces.
INTERACTION ENERGY OF A SYSTEMOF PARTICLES
In a system of N particles with masses m
1
, m
2
... m
n
separated from each other by a distance r
12
, r
13
.. where r
12
is the separation between m
1
and m
2
and so on.
The total collision energy of system is,
N N
i j
i 1 j 1 ij
Gmm
1
U= -
2 r
= =

The factor 1/2 is given because the interaction energy for each possible pair of system is taken
twice during summation as for masses m
1
and m
3
1 3 3 1
13 31
Gmm Gm m
U
r r
= = (i = j)
Gravitational Self energy of a Uniform Sphere (star):
,
3 2
shell
3
4
r 4r dr
M 3
U = -G where
=
4 r
r
3
|
|
'
|
|
'
,
2
4
1
= - G 4
r dr
3
, ,
R
2 R 5
2 2
4 3
star
0 0
1 1 r 3 4
1
U = - G 4
r dr = - G 4 = - G R
3 3 5 5 3 R
(
|
( |
'

}
O
dr R
2
star
3 GM
U =-
5 R