5.8.1: Potential Near a Point Mass
- Page ID
- 8145
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)We shall define the potential to be zero at infinity. If we are in the vicinity of a point mass, we shall always have to do work in moving a test particle away from the mass. We shan’t reach zero potential until we are an infinite distance away. It follows that the potential at any finite distance from a point mass is negative. The potential at a point is the work required to move unit mass from infinity to the point; i.e., it is negative.
\(\text{FIGURE V.23}\)
The magnitude of the field at a distance \(x\) from a point mass \(M\) (figure \(\text{V.23}\)) is \(GM/x^2\), and the force on a mass m placed there would be \(GMm/x^2\). The work required to move \(m\) from \(x\) to \(x + δx\) is \(GMmδx/x^2\). The work required to move it from \(r\) to infinity is
\[GMm∫_r^∞ \frac{dx}{x^2} = \frac{GMm}{r}.\]
The work required to move unit mass from \(∞\) to \(r\), which is the potential at \(r\) is
\[ψ = -\frac{GM}{r}. \label{5.8.1} \tag{5.8.1}\]
The mutual potential energy of two point masses a distance r apart, which is the work required to bring them to a distance \(r\) from an infinite initial separation, is
\[V = -\frac{GMm}{r}. \label{5.8.2} \tag{5.8.2}\]
I here summarize a number of similar-looking formulas, although there is, of course, not the slightest possibility of confusing them. Here goes:
Force between two masses:
\[F = \frac{GMm}{r^2}. \quad \text{N} \label{5.8.3} \tag{5.8.3}\]
Field near a point mass:
\[g = \frac{GM}{r^2}, \quad \text{N kg}^{-1} \ or \text{ m s}^{-2} \label{5.8.4} \tag{5.8.4}\]
which can be written in vector form as:
\[\textbf{g} = - \frac{GM}{r^2} \hat{\textbf{r}} \quad \text{N kg}^{-1} \ or \text{ m s}^{-2} \label{5.8.5} \tag{5.8.5}\]
or as:
\[\textbf{g} = -\frac{GM}{r^3} \textbf{r}. \quad \text{N kg}^{-1} \ or \text{ m s}^{-2} \label{5.8.6} \tag{5.8.6}\]
Mutual potential energy of two masses:
\[V = -\frac{GMm}{r}. \quad \text{J} \label{5.8.7} \tag{5.8.7}\]
Potential near a point mass:
\[ψ = -\frac{GM}{r}. \quad \text{J kg}^{-1} \label{5.8.8} \tag{5.8.8}\]
I hope that’s crystal clear.