The gravitational potential energy of a system of two masses is negative. What d

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Question: The gravitational potential energy of a system of two masses is negative. What does this imply?

Options:

Correct Answer: The masses are attracting each other

Solution:

A negative gravitational potential energy indicates that the masses are attracting each other.

The gravitational potential energy of a system of two masses is negative. What does this imply?

The gravitational potential energy of a system of two masses is negative. What does this imply?

Step 1: Understand what gravitational potential energy is. It is the energy stored in a system due to the position of two masses relative to each other.
Step 2: Recognize that gravitational potential energy can be positive or negative depending on the distance between the masses.
Step 3: Know that when the gravitational potential energy is negative, it means the two masses are closer together than a certain reference point (usually taken as infinity).
Step 4: Realize that negative gravitational potential energy indicates that the two masses are in a bound state, meaning they are attracting each other.
Step 5: Conclude that the negative value shows that work would need to be done to separate the masses, confirming their attraction.

Gravitational Potential Energy – Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, and it is defined as negative when two masses are in a bound system.
Attraction Between Masses – A negative value of gravitational potential energy indicates that the two masses are in a state of attraction, meaning they are likely to move closer together.