What is gravitational Potential ?

1.	What is gravitational Potential ?
Answer» We measure the gravitational potential energy U of a body (1) by assigning U = 0 for a reference configuration (such as the body at a reference level) (2) then equating U to the work W done by an external force to move the body up or down from that level to a point. We then define gravitational potential of the point as gravitational potential energy per unit mass of the body. We follow the same procedure with the electric force, which is also a conservative force with the only difference that while the gravitational force is always attractive, electric force can be attractive (for unlike charges) or repulsive (for like charges).

Answer»

We measure the gravitational potential energy U of a body (1) by assigning U = 0 for a reference configuration (such as the body at a reference level) (2) then equating U to the work W done by an external force to move the body up or down from that level to a point. We then define gravitational potential of the point as gravitational potential energy per unit mass of the body.

We follow the same procedure with the electric force, which is also a conservative force with the only difference that while the gravitational force is always attractive, electric force can be attractive (for unlike charges) or repulsive (for like charges).

Discussion

No Comment Found

Related InterviewSolutions

Two spherical , noncoducting and very tin shells of unifromly distributed jpositive charge `Q` and radiuy d are located a distance ` 10d` from each other . A positive point charge q is placed inside one of the shells at a dustabce ` d//2` from the center, on the line connecting the centers of the two shells , as shown in the figure, What is the net force on the charge `q` ? . A. ` (qQ)/(3 61 pi varepsilon_0 d^2) ` to the leftB. `(qQ)/(36 1 pi varepsilon_0 pi d^2) ` to the rightC. ` ( 362qQ)/(36 1 pi varepsilon_0d^2)` to the leftD. `(36 0qQ)/(36 1 pi varepsilon_0d^2)` to the right
A hollow metal sphere of radius ` 5 cm` is charged such that the potential on its surcace is ` 10V`. The potential at the centre of the centre of the sphere is -A. ` 0 V`B. ` 10 V`C. same as at point ` 5 cm` away from the surface out side sphereD. same as a point ` 25` cm away from the surface
A hollow metal sphere of radius 5 cm is charged such that the potential on its surface is `10V`. The potential at the distance `3 cm` from the centre of the sphere is:A. zeroB. 10 VC. same as at a point 5 cm away from the surfaceD. same as at a point 25 cm away from the surface
A hollow metal sphere of radius ` 5 cm` is charged such that the potential on its surface is ` 10V`. The potential at the center of the sphere is -
The electric field in the region between two concentric charged spherical shells- (a) is zero (b) increases with distance from centre (c) is constant (d) decreases with distance from centre
A hollow metallic sphere of radius 10 cm is given a charge of `3.2 xx 10^(-9) C.` The electric intensity at a point 4 cm from the center isA. `9xx10^(-9)NC^(-1)`B. `"288 NC"^(-1)`C. `"2.88 NC"^(-1)`D. zero
A hollow metal sphere of radius 10 cm is charged such that the potential on its surface is 80 V. The potential at the centre of the sphere is-(a) 800 V (b) zero (c) 8 V(d) 80 V
A hollow metal sphere of radius 10cm is charged such that the potential on its surface is 80 V. The potential at the centre of the sphere isA. zeroB. `80 V`C. `800 V`D. `8V`
The electric field strength in air at NTP is `3 xx 10^(6)V//m`. The maximum charge that can be given to a spherical conductor of radius 3m isA. `3xx 10^(4)C`B. `3 xx 10^(-3)C`C. `3 xx 10^(-2)C`D. `3 xx 10^(-1)C`
Two spherical conductors A and B of radii 1mm and 2mm are separated by a distance of 5 cm and are uniformly charged. If the spheres are connected by a conducting wire then in equilibrium condition, the ratio of the magnitude of the electric fields at the surfaces of spheres A and B isA. `4 :1`B. `1:2`C. `2:1`D. `1:4`