(a) Define gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences
Problem
(a) Define gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field.
(a) Define gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field.
(b) How does gravitational potential vary with distance from the centre of a uniform spherical planet of mass M? State the mathematical nature of this variation without deriving it.
(c) Gravitational potential as well as gravitational potential energy are always taken to be negative while measuring from infinity. Explain the physical reason for the negative sign in each case.
(d) Sketch a qualitative graph of gravitational potential V (vertical axis) versus distance r from the planet’s centre (horizontal axis). Mark the potential at the surface and at infinity on your diagram and indicate the sign of the slope.