Gravitational potential
What Gravitational potential means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Gravitational potential
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Reference: AQA, OCR
The work done per unit mass in bringing a small test mass from infinity to that point.
The work done per unit mass in bringing a small test mass from infinity to that point, so it is negative near a mass.
The work done per unit mass to bring a small test mass from infinity to that point in the gravitational field.
Topics that use Gravitational potential
- Gravitational potential (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Gravitational potential and energy (OCR A-Level)
- Point and spherical masses (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Escape velocity
- Scalar nature of potential
- Critical damping
- Direction of gravitational force
- Energy condition for escape
- Equipotential surface
- Field
- Field strength and line spacing
Using Gravitational potential in the exam
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