All Questions
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What is the significance of a reference point in calculating the potential?
The gravitational potential is given as $$U(r)=-\frac{GMm}{R}$$ where $G$ is the universal gravitational constant $M$ is the mass of the earth and $m$ is the mass of an arbitrary object and $R$ is the ...
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Can we make uniformity in marking zero potential? Say it at earths surface or at infinity from earths surface?
The gravitational potential energy at infinity os supposed to be zero. Since body always moves towards lower potential, the gravitational potential is taken as negative so that gravitational potential ...
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15
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Near Earth vs Newtonian gravitational potential
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation tells us that the potential energy of object in a gravitational field is $$U ~=~ -\frac{GMm}{r}.\tag{1}$$
The experimentally verified near-Earth gravitational ...
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Multiple Definition For Gravitational Potential Energy?
This may just be a simple Misconception Question, here goes:
Definition for Gravitational Potential Energy:
The work done by gravity to pull an object to the ground.
$E=-(\frac{GMm}{r}-\frac{...
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