Gravitational Potential (V)

Whenever a body is lifted against the force of gravityThe force of gravity, or gravitational force, pulls objects with mass toward each other. More, work is done on the body. Likewise, when a body is lifted from the earth’s surface to a new position above the earth’s surface, the work is stored in the body as potential energyEnergy is the ability to do work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, and electrical energy. Units of Energy: The SI unit... More. For example, if a body is moved from a point to another point, r, away from the earth’s surface, the work done will be equal to the force multiplied by the separation between the two masses.

Work done = Force × displacement

Force = \( \frac{GMm} {r^2} \)

displacement = separation between the two masses (r)

∴ Gravitational potential energy = \( \frac{GMm} {r^2} \scriptsize \; \times \; r\)

Work done = GPE = \( \frac{GMm}{r}\)

Where

• M - Mass of the earth or object creating the magnetic field
• m - mass of body moved against the earth
• r - Distance of the mass from the earth’s surface 

A man outside the earth’s gravitational field is at infinity (∞) and the gravitational potential energy is zero at infinity.

The gravitational potential (V) at a point is a concept used in physics