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Derivation of Gravitational Potential Energy Using Calculus2
Derivation of Gravitational Potential Energy Using Calculus2
Derivation of Gravitational Potential Energy Using Calculus2
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:
() =
() =
We can solve this integrand using the standard result for the
integral of 1/x2:
= +
(Where C is a constant of integration)
() =
= ( ) = ( )
Since: ( )=
() =
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).
( ) = [ ( )] =
The limit of 1/r as r tends to infinity can be shown using the graph
and table. Fig 1
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.