Physics

Expression for Gravitational Potential at a Point

Consider a body of mass M at the point C. Let P be a point at a distance r from C. To calculate the gravitational potential at P consider two points A and B. The point A, where the unit mass is placed is at a distance x from C.

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The gravitational field at A is E = GM/x2

The work done in moving the unit mass from A to B through a small distance dx is du = dv = -E.dx

Negative sign indicates that work is done against the gravitational field.

dv =  – GM/x2  dx

The work done in moving the unit mass from the point P to infinity is:

∫ dv = – r GM/x2  dx

So, v = – GM/r

The gravitational potential is negative, since the work is done against the field. (i.e) the gravitational force is always attractive.