Asked in MDCAT Test Series — Electrostatics, Work and EnergyModerate

Absolute gravitational P.E. of an object at infinite height w.r.t Earth is taken as:

Correct answer: C. Zero

  • A. Negative
  • B. Positive
  • C. Zero
  • D. All of these

Explanation

Option C is correct.Yes, the absolute gravitational potential energy of an object at infinite height with respect to Earth is taken as zero. This is because the gravitational force between the object and Earth becomes zero at infinite height. The gravitational potential energy of an object is the energy that it has due to its position in a gravitational field. The gravitational potential energy of an object is measured in joules. The formula for gravitational potential energy is:PE = -GMm/r where:G is the gravitational constantM is the mass of the Earthm is the mass of the objectr is the distance between the object and the center of the EarthWhen the object is at infinite height, the distance between the object and the center of the Earth is infinite. This means that the gravitational potential energy of the object is zero.If r is infinite, then PE = 0. This is because the gravitational force between the object and the Earth becomes zero at infinite height.

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About Potential Energy

Potential energy is energy stored because of position or configuration, including gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface and elastic energy in a stretched or compressed spring. Questions use changes in potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy, while distinguishing a chosen reference level from an absolute zero of energy.

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