Question

What is the gravitational potential due to the Earth at a point which is at a height of 2R_E above the surface of the Earth, Mass of the Earth is 6 × 10²⁴ kg, radius of the Earth = 6400 km and G = 6.67 × 10^-11 Nm² kg^-2.

Answer 1

To find: Gravitational potential (V) 

Formula: V = - GM/r

Calculation: From formula,

Negative sign indicates the attractive nature of gravitational potential. 

Gravitational potential due to Earth will be 2.08 × 10⁷ J kg^-1 towards the centre of the Earth. 

[Note: According lo definition of gravitational potential its SI unit is J/kg.]