Astronomy & Space
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Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy of a mass in another body's gravitational field.

Formula

U=−GMmrU = -\frac{GMm}{r}

Variables

GGravitational constant
M,mMasses
rSeparation

Example

It is negative because energy is zero at infinite separation

Did You Know?

The energy is negative because gravity is attractive — you must add energy to pull two bodies apart to infinity.

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