Gravitational Potential Energy
Category : JEE Main & Advanced
It is the usual form of potential energy and this is the energy associated with the state of separation between two bodies that interact via gravitational force.
For two particles of masses \[{{m}_{1}}\] and \[{{m}_{2}}\] separated by a distance r
Gravitational potential energy \[U=-\frac{G\,{{m}_{1}}{{m}_{2}}}{r}\]
(1) If a body of mass m at height h relative to surface of earth then
Gravitational potential energy \[U=\frac{mgh}{1+\frac{h}{R}}\]
Where R = radius of earth, g = acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the earth.
(2) If h << R then above formula reduces to U = mgh.
(3) If V is the gravitational potential at a point, the potential energy of a particle of mass m at that point will be
U = mV
(4) Energy height graph : When a body projected vertically upward from the ground level with some initial velocity then it possess kinetic energy but its initial potential energy is zero.
As the body moves upward its potential energy increases due to increase in height but kinetic energy decreases (due to decrease in velocity). At maximum height its kinetic energy becomes zero and potential energy maximum but through out the complete motion, total energy remains constant as shown in the figure.
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
