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Gravitational Potential Energy

Q: Two bodies of masses \${m}\$ and \$4\ m\$ are placed at a distance \${r}.\$ The gravitational potential at a point on the line joining them where the gravitational field is zero is :

Given:Two masses \$m\$ and \$4m\$ kept at a distance \$r\$Let gravitetional potential is zero at a point \$p\$\$\dfrac{Gm}{x^2}-\dfrac{G(4m)}{(r-x)^2}=0\$\$\dfrac1x = \dfrac 2{(r-x)}\$\$r - x = 2x\$\$3x = r\$\$x = r/3\$Potential at point \$p\$\$V=-\dfrac{4Gmm}{(2r/3)}-\dfrac{Gmm}{(r/3)}\$\$\displaystyle V=-Gm(\dfrac{6}{r}+ \frac{3}{r})= -9\dfrac{Gm}{r}\$

Q: At what height from the surface of earth the gravitation potential and the value of \$g\$ are \$-5.4 \times {10}^{7}\ J {kg}^{-2}\$ and \$6.0 \ {ms}^{-2}\$ respectively? Take the radius of earth as \$6400 \ km\$.

\$V=-\dfrac{GM}{R+h}=-5.4\times 10^7\$ ....... (1)\$g=\dfrac{GM}{(R+h)^2}=6\$ ...... (2)Dividing the two equations, we get:\$\Rightarrow \dfrac{5.4\times 10^7}{(R+h)}=6\$\$\Rightarrow R+h=9000\ km\$\$\Rightarrow h=2600\ km\$

Q: A particle of mass \$M\$ is situated at the centre of spherical shell of same mass and radius \$a\$. The magnitude of the gravitational potential at a point situated at \${a}/{2}\$ distance from the centre, will be

\$\textbf{Step 1 - Drawing free body diagram }\$\$\textbf{Step 2 - Net gravitational potential at point P is given by}\$\$V_{p} = \text{(Potential due to sphere)} + \text{(Potential due to particle)}\$As we know that Gravitational potential due to point mass\$= \dfrac {GM}{r}\$Gravitational potential inside shell \$=\dfrac{GM}{a}\$\$\because V_{p} = \dfrac {GM}{a} + \dfrac {GM}{\dfrac {a}{2}}\$\$\Rightarrow V_{p} = \dfrac {3GM}{a}\$Hence option (B) is correct.

Q: Energy required to move a body of mass m from an orbit of radius 2R to 3R is:

\$\text{Energy required} =\text{(Final potential-Initial potential)m}\$\$\text{Energy required}=-\dfrac{GMm}{3R}-\dfrac{-GMm}{2R}=\dfrac{GMm}{6R}\$

Q: A body of mass 'm' is taken from the earth's surface to the height equal to twice the radius (R) of the earth. The change in potential energy of body will be -

Mass = m, height = 2RAt height the acceleration due to gravity decreases , hence the value of acceleration due to gravity becomes g' = \$\dfrac{g}{1 + h/R}\$ = \$\dfrac{gR}{h + R}\$The value of potential energy \$= mgh =\dfrac{mghR}{h + R}\$Now \$h = 2R \$ (given)Henc change in potential energy = \$\dfrac{2}{3}\$mgR

Q: Infinite number of bodies, each of mass \$2\ kg\$, are situated on \$x-axis\$ at distance \$1\ m,\ 2\ m,\ 4\ m,\ 8\ m,\ .......\$ respectively, from the origin. The resulting gravitational potential due to this system at the origin will be

Gravitational potential at distance \$x\$, \$V=-\dfrac{Gm}{x}\$\$\Rightarrow\$ Gravitational Potential at origin, \$V=-\dfrac{2G}{1} -\dfrac{2G}{2}-\dfrac{2G}{4} -\dfrac{2G}{8} - - - - to\$ \$ \infty\$ \$\Rightarrow V= -2G \left \{ \dfrac{1}{1} +\dfrac{1}{2} +\dfrac{1}{4} + \dfrac{1}{8} + + + + to \infty \right \}\$\$\Rightarrow \left \{ \dfrac{1}{1} + \dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{1}{4} + \dfrac{1}{8} + + + + to \infty \right \}\$ is GP series Where \$a=1\$ and \$r=\dfrac{1}{2}\$\$\Rightarrow \$ Sum of GP series, \$S= \dfrac{a}{1-r}\$\$\Rightarrow V= -2G\times \dfrac{1}{1-\frac{1}{2}}=-4G\$

Q: Define gravitational potential energy. Derive expression for gravitational potential in the gravitational field of earth at distance \$r\$ from the centre of the earth.

The work obtained in bringing a body from infinity to a point in gravitational field is called gravitational potential energy.Force of attraction between the earth and the object when an object is at the distance \$a\$ from the center of the earth.\$F = \dfrac{{GmM}}{{{x^2}}}\$Consider the \$dW\$ is the small amount of work done in bringing the body without acceleration through the very small distance \$dx\$\$dW=Fdx\$And total work done to bring the body from infinity to point \$p\$ which is at distance \$r\$ from the center of the earth.\$w = \int_\infty ^r {\dfrac{{GmM}}{{{x^2}}}dx = - \dfrac{{GMm}}{r}} \$Hence, the gravitational potential energy \${ = - \dfrac{{GMm}}{r}}\$

Q: If \$g\$ is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface, the gain in the potential energy of an object of mass \$m\$ raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the radius \$R\$ of the earth is

Gravitational potential energy on the earth surface, \$U_{r}=\displaystyle \dfrac{-GMm}{R}\$ Gravitational potential energy at a height h above the earth's surface, \$U_{h}=\displaystyle \dfrac{-GMm}{R+h}\$ \$ U_{h}=\displaystyle \dfrac{-GMm}{R+R}=\dfrac{-GMm}{2R}\$ Gain in gravitational potential energy \$=U_{h}-U_{r}\$ \$=\displaystyle \dfrac{-GMm}{2R}-(\dfrac{-GMm}{R})=\dfrac{GMm}{R}-\dfrac{GMm}{2R}\$ \$=\displaystyle \dfrac{GMm}{2R}=\dfrac{1}{2}mgR\$

Q: From a solid sphere of mass \$M\$ and radius \$R\$ a spherical portion of radius \$\dfrac {R}{2}\$ is removed, as shown in the figure. Taking gravitational potential \$V = 0\$ at \$r = \infty\$, the potential at the centre of the cavity thus formed is : \$(G =\$ gravitational constant).

By superposition principle, \$v_1=\dfrac{-GM}{2R^3}[3R^2-(\dfrac{R}{2})^2]\$\$=-\dfrac{11GM}{8R^3}\$Also, \$v_2=-\dfrac{3}{2} \dfrac{G (M/8)}{(R/2)}=\dfrac{-3GM}{8R}\$The required potential is, \$v=v_1-v_2\$\$=-\dfrac{11GM}{8R}-(-\dfrac{3GM}{8R})\$\$V=-\dfrac{GM}{R}\$

Q: Gravitational potential difference between surface of a planet and a point situated at a height of \$20m\$ above its surface is \$2 joule/kg\$. If gravitational field is uniform, then the work done in taking a \$5kg\$ body of height \$4\$ meter above surface will be :-

The potential difference for a distance of \$20 m\$ is \$2 \ joule/kg\$.Now work done \$=m \times\$ potential difference.Thus work done for a distance of \$4 m\$ for a mass \$5 kg\$, \$W= \dfrac{4}{20} \times 2 \times 5\$\$\implies W= 2 J\$

Physics

definition

Gravitational Potential (V)

The gravitational potential (V) is the gravitational potential energy (U) per unit mass: where m is the mass of the object. Potential energy is equal (in magnitude, but negative) to the work done by the gravitational field moving a body to its given position in space from infinity.

example

Change in gravitational potential energy as work done by gravitational force

Example: If

R

is radius of the earth and

W

is work done in lifting a body from the ground to an altitude

R

, the calculate the amount of work which should be done in lifting it further to twice that altitude?

Solution:
work done is equal to change in PE

W = - Δ U = U_{1} - U_{2} = - \frac{G M m}{R} - (- \frac{G M m}{2 R}) = - \frac{G M m}{2 R}

work done in lifting body from

2 R

4 R

W^{'} = - Δ U = U_{1} - U_{2} = - \frac{G M m}{2 R} - (- \frac{G M m}{4 R}) = - \frac{G M m}{4 R} = \frac{W}{2}

LEARN WITH VIDEOS

Introduction to gravitational potential energy

6 mins

Gravitational potential energy due to continuous mass system

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Quick Summary With Stories

Introduction to Gravitational Potential

3 mins

Gravitational Potential due to Point Mass

2 mins

Important Questions

Two bodies of masses $m$ and $4 m$ are placed at a distance $r .$ The gravitational potential at a point on the line joining them where the gravitational field is zero is :

Medium

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At what height from the surface of earth the gravitation potential and the value of $g$ are $- 5.4 \times 10^{7} J k g^{- 2}$ and $6.0 m s^{- 2}$ respectively? Take the radius of earth as $6400 k m$ .

Medium

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A particle of mass $M$ is situated at the centre of spherical shell of same mass and radius $a$ . The magnitude of the gravitational potential at a point situated at $a / 2$ distance from the centre, will be

Medium

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Energy required to move a body of mass m from an orbit of radius 2R to 3R is:

Medium

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A body of mass 'm' is taken from the earth's surface to the height equal to twice the radius (R) of the earth. The change in potential energy of body will be -

Medium

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Infinite number of bodies, each of mass $2 k g$ , are situated on $x - a x i s$ at distance $1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 8 m, . . . . . . .$ respectively, from the origin. The resulting gravitational potential due to this system at the origin will be

Hard

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Define gravitational potential energy. Derive expression for gravitational potential in the gravitational field of earth at distance $r$ from the centre of the earth.

Medium

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If $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface, the gain in the potential energy of an object of mass $m$ raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the radius $R$ of the earth is

Medium

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From a solid sphere of mass $M$ and radius $R$ a spherical portion of radius $\frac{R}{2}$ is removed, as shown in the figure. Taking gravitational potential $V = 0$ at $r = \infty$ , the potential at the centre of the cavity thus formed is : $(G =$ gravitational constant).

Medium

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Gravitational potential difference between surface of a planet and a point situated at a height of $20 m$ above its surface is $2 j o u l e / k g$ . If gravitational field is uniform, then the work done in taking a $5 k g$ body of height $4$ meter above surface will be :-

Medium

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definition

Gravitational Potential (V)

example

Change in gravitational potential energy as work done by gravitational force

Quick Summary With Stories

Introduction to Gravitational Potential

Gravitational Potential due to Point Mass

Two bodies of masses m and 4 m are placed at a distance r. The gravitational potential at a point on the line joining them where the gravitational field is zero is :

At what height from the surface of earth the gravitation potential and the value of g are −5.4×107 Jkg−2 and 6.0 ms−2 respectively? Take the radius of earth as 6400 km.

A particle of mass M is situated at the centre of spherical shell of same mass and radius a. The magnitude of the gravitational potential at a point situated at a/2 distance from the centre, will be

Energy required to move a body of mass m from an orbit of radius 2R to 3R is:

A body of mass 'm' is taken from the earth's surface to the height equal to twice the radius (R) of the earth. The change in potential energy of body will be -

Infinite number of bodies, each of mass 2 kg, are situated on x−axis at distance 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 8 m, ....... respectively, from the origin. The resulting gravitational potential due to this system at the origin will be

Define gravitational potential energy. Derive expression for gravitational potential in the gravitational field of earth at distance r from the centre of the earth.

If g is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface, the gain in the potential energy of an object of mass m raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the radius R of the earth is

From a solid sphere of mass M and radius R a spherical portion of radius 2R​ is removed, as shown in the figure. Taking gravitational potential V=0 at r=∞, the potential at the centre of the cavity thus formed is : (G= gravitational constant).

Gravitational potential difference between surface of a planet and a point situated at a height of 20m above its surface is 2joule/kg. If gravitational field is uniform, then the work done in taking a 5kg body of height 4 meter above surface will be :-

Two bodies of masses $m$ and $4 m$ are placed at a distance $r .$ The gravitational potential at a point on the line joining them where the gravitational field is zero is :

At what height from the surface of earth the gravitation potential and the value of $g$ are $- 5.4 \times 10^{7} J k g^{- 2}$ and $6.0 m s^{- 2}$ respectively? Take the radius of earth as $6400 k m$ .

A particle of mass $M$ is situated at the centre of spherical shell of same mass and radius $a$ . The magnitude of the gravitational potential at a point situated at $a / 2$ distance from the centre, will be

Infinite number of bodies, each of mass $2 k g$ , are situated on $x - a x i s$ at distance $1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 8 m, . . . . . . .$ respectively, from the origin. The resulting gravitational potential due to this system at the origin will be

Define gravitational potential energy. Derive expression for gravitational potential in the gravitational field of earth at distance $r$ from the centre of the earth.

If $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface, the gain in the potential energy of an object of mass $m$ raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the radius $R$ of the earth is

From a solid sphere of mass $M$ and radius $R$ a spherical portion of radius $\frac{R}{2}$ is removed, as shown in the figure. Taking gravitational potential $V = 0$ at $r = \infty$ , the potential at the centre of the cavity thus formed is : $(G =$ gravitational constant).

Gravitational potential difference between surface of a planet and a point situated at a height of $20 m$ above its surface is $2 j o u l e / k g$ . If gravitational field is uniform, then the work done in taking a $5 k g$ body of height $4$ meter above surface will be :-