Physics A-Level
Negative potential near a mass
What Negative potential near a mass means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Negative potential near a mass
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Reference: AQA
Because the gravitational force is attractive, the work done by the field is positive when moving from infinity, so the potential is negative near a mass.
Topics that use Negative potential near a mass
- Gravitational potential (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Equipotential surface
- Gravitational potential
- Gravitational potential difference
- Perpendicularity of field lines and equipotentials
- Potential difference
- Scalar nature of potential
- Sign conventions and the zero of potential at infinity
- Uniform sphere interior fields and potentials
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