Three identical masses are paired and held at fixed center-to-center separations…

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

Three identical

2.0\,\text{kg}

masses are paired and held at fixed center-to-center separations before being released. Pair 1 is separated by

0.20\,\text{m}

, Pair 2 by

0.40\,\text{m}

, and Pair 3 by

0.80\,\text{m}

. Rank the gravitational potential energies (

U_1, U_2, U_3

) of the three pairs from most negative to least negative. (a)

U_3 < U_2 < U_1

(b)

U_1 > U_2 > U_3

(c)

U_1 < U_2 < U_3

(d)

U_2 < U_3 < U_1