Question

The work done in moving a particle in the gravitational field of earth from point $A$ to point $B$ along three different paths $1$ , $2$ and $3$ are $W_{1},W_{2}$ and $W_{3}$ respectively, then

• A. $W_{1}>W_{2}>W_{3}$
• B. $W_{1}=W_{2}=W_{3}$
• C. $W_{1} < W_{2} < W_{3}$
• D. $W_{2}>W_{1}>W_{3}$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The gravitational field of a point mass 'm' is a conservative field, in which the work done in moving a particle from one point to another depends upon the initial and final positions of the particle and not on the actual path travelled by the particle. Hence the work done along all the three paths 1, 2 and 3 is the same. i.e. $W_{1}=W_{2}=W_{3}$ .