Gravitational potential energy

The gravitational potential energy of a system of two particles is the negative of the work that would be done by the gravitational force of either particle acting on the other if the particles were brought together from infinity to the given distance.

Notation:

1. \(G\) (G) is gravitational_constant.

Links:

1. Physics LibreTexts. Gravitational Potential Energy beyond Earth (13.4.6).

gravitational_potential_energy

Gravitational potential_energy.

Symbol:

U

Latex:

\(U\)

Dimension:

energy

first_mass

mass of the first particle.

Symbol:

m_1

Latex:

\(m_{1}\)

Dimension:

mass

second_mass

mass of the second particle.

Symbol:

m_2

Latex:

\(m_{2}\)

Dimension:

mass

distance_between_mass_centers

euclidean_distance between mass centers of the particles.

Symbol:

d

Latex:

\(d\)

Dimension:

length

law

U = -G * m_1 * m_2 / d

Latex:

\[U = - \frac{G m_{1} m_{2}}{d}\]