6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy and Gravitational Potential

6.
3 Gravitational potential
energy and gravitational
potential
• Gravitational potential energy (U)
• Gravitational potential (V)
• Potential gradient
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 1

6.3 Gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential (SB p. 215)
Gravitational potential energy (U)
The gravitational potential energy (U) of a

body of mass m at a point in a gravitational
field is defined as the negative of work done by
the gravitational force to bring the body from
infinity to that point.
Go to
More to Know 12
Object is moved dx towards earth

M Em
G 2 dx
Work done (dW) = F dx = x
Note: Since the directions of gravitational
force and the displacement are the same, Go to
the work done is positive.
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. More to Know 13
3
Move object from x =  to r

Gravitational PE (U )   W  r Fdx
r M Em M Em
  G 2 dx  G
x r

1. –ve denotes U at  is zero (highest)

and decreases for closer to earth
Go to
More to Know 14
2. Unit for U: joule (J)

M Em
3. r = RE: U o  G
RE
M Em
U1  G
h above surface: ( RE  h)
Increase in U = U1 – Uo = mgh
4. Relationship
dU between

U and F
F  or U   r Fdr
dr
Go to
More to Know 15
Gravitational potential (V)
The gravitational potential (V) at a point in a

gravitational field is the work done by the
gravitational force to bring a unit mass from
infinity to that point.
U GM E
V  
m r


1. V
- at  is zero
- scalar
- unit: J kg-1


2. VPQ – work done by gravitational force in
bringing a unit mass from P to Q (independent of
path) VPQ  V  VP V Q   GM E     GM E 
 r1   r2 
Note: Since the directions of force and displacement is

opposite in this definition, the work done (per unit mass) is
negative.

3. All points at same distance from earth’s
centre have same V
The surface where all points on it has the
same gravitational potential is known as an
equipotential surface.


- No work done if move object on the same
equipotential surface
- Gravitational field  equipotential surfaces
Go to
More to Know 16
Go to
More to Know 17
Go to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Example 6 11

Potential gradient
U = Work done = F r
m V = -Fg r = -mg r
g = - V/r
r  0 potential
g   dV gradient
dr
Potential gradient
Relationship between V,
g and r
Note: The gravitational field
strength (g) is actually a
vector and its value should be
negative to represent its
direction. In section 6.2, g is
positive since we consider its
magnitude only.
Go to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Example 7 13

End

Sign of work
The sign of work depends on the direction of

force and displacement.
1. If their directions are the same, then

positive work is done.
2. If their directions are opposite, then

negative work is done. Return to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Text 15
Other definitions of U
1. The work done by an external force to

bring the body from infinity to that point.
2. The work done by the gravitational force to

bring the body from that point to infinity.
Return to

Text 16
Sign of gravitational potential energy
The gravitational potential energy (U) of two

particles at infinite separation is defined as
zero by convention. Hence, U must be negative
or zero (at infinity).
Return to

Text 17

U  r Fdr
can also be written as
U  r Fdr
Return to

Text 18
VPQ can also be defined as

the work done by an external
force in bringing a unit mass
from Q to P.
Return to

Text 19
Equipotential surfaces
around the earth
The equipotential surfaces
around the earth are
imaginary spherical shells
with the same centre at the
earth's centre.
Return to

Text 20
Q: The dashed lines in the figure represent the

equipotential lines around the earth. The
gravitational potential is as shown for each of
the equipotential lines.

Q: (a) (i) Which one of the points (or points) has the
highest gravitational potential? Explain your
answer.
(ii) Calculate the work done by the gravitational
field in bringing a spacecraft of mass 5 000 kg
(1) from A to C; (2) from C to D.
(b) (i) The equipotential lines, which are given
every 0.5 × 107 J kg−1, are not equally spaced.
Explain why.
(ii) Calculate the distances AB and BC.
( G = 6.7 × 10−11 N kg−2 m2;
mass of earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg)
Solution
Solution:
(a) (i) The point A has the highest gravitational potential.
GM E
Gravitational potential (V) =  r
Since the distance of A from the earth is the greatest, the
value is the least negative or the highest.
(ii) (1) Work done by gravitational field to bring spacecraft from A
to C:
= m ( VA − VC) = 5 000 [−4.0 ×107 − (−5.0 ×107)] = 5.0 ×1010 J
(2) Work done by gravitational field to bring spacecraft from
C to D:
= m ( VC − VD) = 0 (for VC = VD)

Solution (cont’d):
(b) (i) The equipotential lines are not equally spaced because the
gravitational potential does not vary linearly with r but
varies inversely with r.
GM E
V 
r
GM E GM E
(ii) By VA   ,rA  
rA VA
rA 

 6.7  1011  6.0  1024 
7
 1.00  10 m; rB 

 6.7  1011  6.0  1024 
 8.93  106 m
7 7
 4.0  10  4.5  10
rC 
 11
 6.7  10  6.0  10 24

 8.04  106 m
7
 5.0  10
AB  rA  rB  1.07  106 m, BC  rB  rC  8.90  105 m
Return to

Text 24
Q: (a) Explain what is meant by

(i) gravitational field strength, and
(ii) gravitational potential.
Give an expression for each of these physical
quantities and an equation relating the two
quantities.
(b) Show that the values of the gravitational
field strength and the gravitational potential
at any point of the earth’s surface are g and
gRE respectively.
Assume that the earth is a uniform surface
of radius RE; and g is the acceleration of free
fall on the
earth’s surface. Solution
25
Solution:
(a) (i) The gravitational field strength at a point in a gravitational
field is the gravitational force acted on a unit mass at that
point. GM
Gravitational field strength 
r2
(ii) The gravitational potential (V) at a point in a gravitational

field is the work done by the gravitational force to bring a unit
mass from infinity to that point.
GM
Gravitational potential (V )  
r
Greavitational field strength   dV  (Potential gradient)
dr

Solution (cont’d) :
(b) On the earth' s surface :
GM E
Gravitational field strength  2
(r  R E )
RE
For an object of mass m on the earth' s surface,
GM E m
gravitational force  2
 mg  mg  weight 
RE
GM E
2
g
RE
Gravitational field strength on the earth' s surface is g .
Gravitational potential on the earth' s surface :
GM E gRE2
V     gRE
RE RE
Return to
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6.3 Gravitational Potential Energy and Gravitational Potential

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© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 1

Gravitational potential energy (U)

The gravitational potential energy (U) of a

Gravitational potential energy (U)

Object is moved dx towards earth

Gravitational potential energy (U)

Move object from x =  to r

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 4

Gravitational potential energy (U)

1. –ve denotes U at  is zero (highest)

Gravitational potential energy (U)

2. Unit for U: joule (J)

Gravitational potential (V)

The gravitational potential (V) at a point in a

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 7

Gravitational potential (V)

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 8

Gravitational potential (V)

Note: Since the directions of force and displacement is

Gravitational potential (V)

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 10

Gravitational potential (V)

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Example 6 11

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Example 7 13

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 14

The sign of work depends on the direction of

1. If their directions are the same, then

2. If their directions are opposite, then

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

1. The work done by an external force to

2. The work done by the gravitational force to

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Sign of gravitational potential energy

The gravitational potential energy (U) of two

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

VPQ can also be defined as

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Q: The dashed lines in the figure represent the

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 21

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 23

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Q: (a) Explain what is meant by

(ii) The gravitational potential (V) at a point in a gravitational

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 26

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