HomerSimpson
New member
- Jun 12, 2008
- 14
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Formula for gravitational potential energy:
-GMm/r (defining 0 gravitational potential energy to be at infinity)
So say we subbed in some value of r, m and M to get the gravitational potential energy of an object and the Earth
Say this gave gravitational energy of -100 joules
Now we want to know how much work needs to be done to get to infinity
By definition, at infinity gravitional potential energy = 0, so then the work is 0 - (-100) = 100 joules
So this means if we do a finite amount of work (100 joules) on the object we'll get to infinity
I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able to do this amount of work
So how is this possible? How can we actually get to infinity?
-GMm/r (defining 0 gravitational potential energy to be at infinity)
So say we subbed in some value of r, m and M to get the gravitational potential energy of an object and the Earth
Say this gave gravitational energy of -100 joules
Now we want to know how much work needs to be done to get to infinity
By definition, at infinity gravitional potential energy = 0, so then the work is 0 - (-100) = 100 joules
So this means if we do a finite amount of work (100 joules) on the object we'll get to infinity
I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be able to do this amount of work
So how is this possible? How can we actually get to infinity?