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Home  Conservation Laws Work: The Transfer of Mechanical Energy Examples Gravitational potential energy |
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Gravitational potential energyWe have already found the equation ΔPE = -FΔy for the gravitational potential energy when the change in height is not enough to cause a significant change in the gravitational force F. What if the change in height is enough so that this assumption is no longer valid? Use the equation W = GMm(1/r2 - 1/r1) derived in section 3.4 to find the potential energy, using r = ∞ as a reference point. The potential energy equals minus the work that would have to be done to bring the object from r1 = 1 to r = r2, which is
This is simpler than the equation for the work, which is an example
of why it is advantageous to record an equation for potential energy
relative to some reference point, rather than an equation for work.
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