Gravitational Potential
 

Gravitational Potential problem 11


  • Define gravitational potential at a point.


  • The Earth may be considered to be an isolated sphere of radius with its mass concentrated at its centre. The variation of the gravitational potential with distance x from the centre of the Earth is shown in the figure below




    The radius of the Earth is . By considering the gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface, determine a value for the mass of the Earth.


 

main author and content editor: Noble Menedi Firima