Derivation of gravitational potential using calculus

Consider a force, F acting along the x-axis.

The potential energy of an object due to its position, (), can

be related to the force acting on it through the following
equation:
()
=

This tells us that the force is equal to the negative rate of

change of potential energy with distance, x - the potential
energy gradient.

In other words, the direction of the force is always opposite the

direction of increasing potential energy.

To find the potential energy, (), due to a force, F, we must

integrate both sides with respect to x. This gives us the
following integral relation between the potential energy
and the force:
() =

In the case of gravity, the force, F between two masses

separated at a distance, x, is given by Newtons law of
gravitation:

=

Where: m1 = mass of 1st object,

m2 = mass of 2nd object
x = separation between the two masses

Here the negative sign indicates that the force is attractive and
is opposite the direction of increasing x values, i.e. points in the
negative direction along the x-axis.
To find the gravitational potential energy we must substitute
Newtons law of gravitation for F inside the integral.
This gives the following:

() =

This integral can be simplified by factoring out the constants:

() =

We can solve this integrand using the standard result for the
integral of 1/x2:

= +

(Where C is a constant of integration)

Substituting this result gives:

() = +

Where we have defined ( = C) to be our new
constant of integration.

When solving potential energy problems we must always

indicate the position where the potential energy is zero
known as the reference point.

For the potential energy due to 2 masses separated a distance x

apart. We take the reference point for zero potential energy to
be at infinity: x =
We can evaluate () with these (boundary) conditions to
give:

( = ) = +

Since ( = ) = 0 and 1/ = 0, this gives: = 0.

Note: strictly speaking we should not write, 1/ = 0, instead

we must take the limit of 1/x as x tends to infinity, and this
will equal zero:

( ) =

Hence, the potential energy between 2 masses a separation

distance, x, apart is given by:

() =

Typically, we will express the potential energy as a function of
r, the radial separation instead of x:

() =

This equation is valid in two and three dimensions, instead of

constraining the point masses to be on the x axis for one
dimension.
Verifying the gravitational potential energy equation

To show that the gravitational potential energy, U(x) is

consistent with Newtons Law of gravitation we will
determine the force, F, from its relation to the potential
gradient:

=

Substituting for U(x) gives:

= ( ) = ( )


Since: ( )=

Using this result we find that the force, F is:

Which is Newtons Law of gravity as we expected!

Change in gravitational potential energy between two (radial)
positions can be determined by evaluating the integral below.
=
= =

=
() () = [ ]
=

We choose for convenience, the reference point for zero potential

energy to be at infinity.

() =
Evaluating the limits of the expression above we get:

() = ( ) ( )

Evaluating the term, , requires us to evaluate the limit of


as r tends to infinity (i.e. a very large number).

This can be expressed in the appropriate mathematical form as:

( ) = [ ( )] =

The limit of 1/r as r tends to infinity can be shown using the graph
and table. Fig 1

The gravitational potential energy U(r) at the position r, can be

shown to be:

() =

Provide definition of why we use grav, potentials,

Provide rigorous mathematical derivations for physics equations

in a level syllabus

Rigorous explanation of work, gravitational potential energy and

calculus (diagram)

The potential energy at infinity contributes no value to the change

in potential energy
This can be explained below with our familiar example of a spring
being extended.

When the spring is extended, the potential energy stored in the

spring increases the further we extend the spring (for increasing
values of x).
()
The potential gradient therefore is positive: > 0,

However we know that the further the spring extends the greater
the (restoring) force that acts on the spring to restore it to
equilibrium.

From the equation above this tells us that the force must act in the
direction of decreasing potential energy towards the (left) in
negative x direction.

For the case of the spring being compressed