If the gravitational potential energy at infinity is assumed to be zero, the potential energy at distance (RE+h) from the centre of the earth is

Question

If the gravitational potential energy at infinity is assumed to be zero, the potential energy at distance (RE+h) from the centre of the earth is (A) PE =(G m ME/(RE+h)) (B) PE =(-G m ME/(RE+h)) (C) PE =m g h (D) PE =(-Gm ME/2(RE+h))

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Gravitational potential energy of a body of mass m at a distance r from the centre of the earth is =-(G m ME/r) ∵ r =RE+h ∴ PE =-(G m ME/(RE+h))

Q. If the gravitational potential energy at infinity is assumed to be zero, the potential energy at distance $(R_{E} + h)$ from the centre of the earth is

$PE = \frac{G m M _{E}}{( R _{E} + h )}$

$PE = \frac{- G m M _{E}}{( R _{E} + h )}$

$PE = m g h$

$PE = \frac{- G m M _{E}}{2 ( R _{E} + h )}$

Gravitational potential energy of a body of mass $m$ at a distance $r$ from the centre of the earth is
$= - \frac{G m M _{E}}{r}$
$∵ r = R_{E} + h$
$∴ PE = - \frac{G m M _{E}}{( R _{E} + h )}$

Q. If the gravitational potential energy at infinity is assumed to be zero, the potential energy at distance (RE​+h) from the centre of the earth is

PE=(RE​+h)GmME​​

PE=(RE​+h)−GmME​​

PE=mgh

PE=2(RE​+h)−GmME​​