Which statement correctly describes how to determine the total gravitational…
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences
Problem
Which statement correctly describes how to determine the total gravitational potential energy of a system that contains three isolated point masses?
(a) Add the potential energy for all six ordered pairs of masses (treating U12 and U21 as distinct).
(b) Multiply the potential energy between any two of the masses by three.
(c) Add the potential energy of each unique pair of masses in the system.
(d) The total gravitational potential energy is zero because the gravitational forces cancel at the center of mass.