MISN-0-107

GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY

equipotential sur face

GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY by Peter Signell and Michael Brandl A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 B. Study Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Ear th Earth

gradient lines

C. Brief Answers to Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 D. Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Project PHYSNET Physics Bldg. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI

ID Sheet: MISN-0-107 THIS IS A DEVELOPMENTAL-STAGE PUBLICATION OF PROJECT PHYSNET The goal of our project is to assist a network of educators and scientists in transferring physics from one person to another. We support manuscript processing and distribution, along with communication and information systems. We also work with employers to identify basic scientic skills as well as physics topics that are needed in science and technology. A number of our publications are aimed at assisting users in acquiring such skills. Our publications are designed: (i) to be updated quickly in response to eld tests and new scientic developments; (ii) to be used in both classroom and professional settings; (iii) to show the prerequisite dependencies existing among the various chunks of physics knowledge and skill, as a guide both to mental organization and to use of the materials; and (iv) to be adapted quickly to specic user needs ranging from single-skill instruction to complete custom textbooks. New authors, reviewers and eld testers are welcome. PROJECT STAFF Andrew Schnepp Eugene Kales Peter Signell Webmaster Graphics Project Director

Title: Gravitational Potential Energy Author: Peter Signell and Michael Brandl, Michigan State University Version: 10/18/2001 Length: 1 hr; 12 pages Input Skills: 1. Calculate the gravitational potential energy for a mass m at a height h above the surface of the earth (MISN-0-21). 2. State the relationship between radius and angular velocity for circular orbits in an inverse square law force eld (MISN-0-102). Output Skills (Knowledge): K1. Start from Newtons Law of Gravitation and derive the general expression for gravitational potential energy. K2. Reduce the general expression for gravitational potential energy to the earths-surface formula, Ep = mgh. Output Skills (Problem Solving): S1. Use gravitational potential energy in problems involving conservation of energy. External Resources (Required): 1. M. Alonso and E. J. Finn, Physics, Addison-Wesley (1970). For availability, see this modules Local Guide. Post-Options: 1. Derivation of Orbits in Inverse-Square-Law Force Fields (MISN0-106). 2. The Gravitational Field (MISN-0-108). Evaluation: Stage 0

ADVISORY COMMITTEE D. Alan Bromley E. Leonard Jossem A. A. Strassenburg Yale University The Ohio State University S. U. N. Y., Stony Brook

Views expressed in a module are those of the module author(s) and are not necessarily those of other project participants. c 2001, Peter Signell for Project PHYSNET, Physics-Astronomy Bldg., Mich. State Univ., E. Lansing, MI 48824; (517) 355-3784. For our liberal use policies see: http://www.physnet.org/home/modules/license.html.

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MISN-0-107 Note that, in two dimensions, the gradient operator is: grad x Now: 1 . +y =r + x y r r

GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY by Peter Signell and Michael Brandl A. Introduction

The Universal Law of Gravitation describes a force between masses. Any work done in changing a conguration of masses thus results in a change in potential energy. The formula for this energy is derived and used, particularly in problems involving conservation of energy.

Ep (r)/ = 0, so: Ep (r) gradEp (r) = dEP (r) r. dr

Acknowledgments B. Study Material

In AF read sections 15.4 and 15.5, noting that the word grad in the fourth line, second column, page 310, should be in bold face type. Work through the Proof of relation (15.3) on page 310, and Examples 15.3 and 15.4. Work problems 15.17, 15.19 and 15.23.
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Preparation of this module was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Division of Science Education Development and Research, through Grant #SED 74-20088 to Michigan State University.

C. Brief Answers to Problems

15.17: 2.62 1033 J, 5.33 1033 J, 2.62 1033 J 15.19: 4.32 103 m/s, 1.03 104 m/s, 5.06 103 m/s, 6.03 104 m/s. 15.23: 1.02 104 m/s, from v = 5ME /3RE .

D. Exercises
1. Figure out why one uses conservation of energy in the assigned problems rather than, say, getting the velocities from v = v0 + at. 2. Derive Newtons Law of Gravitation from the expression for gravitational potential energy by applying the gradient operator. For you skiers, the gradient of a function points up the functions fall line.
1 M. Alonso and E. J. Finn, Physics, Addison-Wesley (1970). For availability, see this modules Local Guide.

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LOCAL GUIDE
The readings for this unit are on reserve for you in the Physics-Astronomy Library, Room 230 in the Physics-Astronomy Building. Ask for them as The readings for CBI Unit 107. Do not ask for them by book title.

PROBLEM SUPPLEMENT
PHYSICAL AND ORBITAL DATA FOR THE SOLAR Mean Mean Orbital Body Radiusc Mass Radius (meters) (kg) (meters) Sun 6.96108 1.991030 -----a 6 Mercury 2.4310 3.301023 5.791010 Venusa 6.06106 4.871024 1.081011 6 24 Earth 6.3710 5.9810 1.501011 Marsa 3.37106 6.401023 2.281011 7 27 Jupiter 6.9910 1.9010 7.781011 7 26 Saturn 5.8410 5.6910 1.431012 7 25 Uranus 2.3010 8.7310 2.871012 Neptune 2.22107 1.031026 4.501012 6 23 Pluto < 3 10 < 6 10 5.901012 b 6 22 Moon 1.7410 7.3510 3.84108 SYSTEM* Orbital Period (seconds) -----7.60106 1.94107 3.16107 5.94107 3.74108 9.30108 2.65109 5.20109 7.82109 2.36106

*Data adapted from the Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Ephemeris and the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, Her Majestys Stationery Oce, London (1961). Notes: a Radius obtained from radar observations, mass from space probe perturbations. b Orbital data are with respect to the earth. c Radius of a sphere of equal volume.

Work the AF problems listed in this modules text. 1. Start from Newtons Law of Gravitation and derive the general expression for gravitational potential energy. 2. A projectile is red vertically from the earth toward the moon. a. At what point on its path toward the moon will its acceleration be zero? b. What would the minimum muzzle velocity (initial velocity of the projectile) need to be to allow the projectile to reach that point, and then fall toward the moon under the inuence of the moons gravity. Assume air resistance is negligible. c. In this case, what would the projectiles velocity be when it hit the moon?

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MISN-0-107 Ep mgh, h RE .

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3. Reduce the general expression for gravitational potential energy to the earths surface formula Ep = mgh.

If we change our potential energy reference: Ep (h) mgh, h RE .

Brief Answers: 1. F = Gmm r r2 (Newtons Law of Gravitation).

Designating (r = ) as the potential energy reference point, Ep () = 0, and denoting the radial component of F as Fr : Ep (r) =
r

F dr =
r 2 r

Fr dr =

Gmm dr r2

= Gmm 2. a. x =

dr = .

Gmm . r

dM E 1+ 2G mM /mE

b. V0 =

mE mM mM mE + . RE dM E R E x dM E x mE mM mM mE + . dM E R M RM x dM E x

c. vf =

2G

NOTE: Some of the above terms are negligibly small. 3. Ep = Ep (RE + h) Ep (RE ) = At earths surface: F = mg = GmmE 2 , so: GmE = gRE 2 RE GmmE GmmE GmmE h + = RE + h RE RE (RE + h)

Putting this into the above, Ep = mghRE 1 = mgh RE + h 1 + h/RE

Since the quantity in the parentheses will be negligibly changed by exclusion of (h/RE ), providing (h RE ), we get:

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MODEL EXAM
PHYSICAL AND ORBITAL DATA FOR THE SOLAR Mean Mean Orbital Body Radiusc Mass Radius (meters) (kg) (meters) Sun 6.96108 1.991030 -----a 6 Mercury 2.4310 3.301023 5.791010 Venusa 6.06106 4.871024 1.081011 Earth 6.37106 5.981024 1.501011 a 6 23 Mars 3.3710 6.4010 2.281011 7 27 Jupiter 6.9910 1.9010 7.781011 7 26 Saturn 5.8410 5.6910 1.431012 Uranus 2.30107 8.731025 2.871012 7 26 Neptune 2.2210 1.0310 4.501012 6 23 Pluto < 3 10 < 6 10 5.901012 b 6 22 Moon 1.7410 7.3510 3.84108 SYSTEM* Orbital Period (seconds) -----7.60106 1.94107 3.16107 5.94107 3.74108 9.30108 2.65109 5.20109 7.82109 2.36106

Brief Answers: 1. See this modules Problem Supplement, problem 1. 2. See this modules Problem Supplement, problem 2. 3. See this modules Problem Supplement, problem 3.

*Data adapted from the Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Ephemeris and the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, Her Majestys Stationery Oce, London (1961). Notes: a Radius obtained from radar observations, mass from space probe perturbations. b Orbital data are with respect to the earth. c Radius of a sphere of equal volume.

1. Start from Newtons Law of Gravitation and derive the general expression for gravitational potential energy. 2. A projectile is red vertically from the earth toward the moon. a. At what point on its path toward the moon will its acceleration be zero? b. What would the minimum muzzle velocity (initial velocity of the projectile) need to be to allow the projectile to reach that point, and then fall toward the moon under the inuence of the moons gravity. Assume air resistance is negligible. c. In this case, what would the projectiles velocity be when it hit the moon? 3. Reduce the general expression for gravitational potential energy to the earths surface formula Ep = mgh.
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