- #1
michaelw
- 80
- 0
EP = mgh
as an object moves further and further away, the value of g decreases and approaches 0.. if this is true, then wouldn't potential energy approach 0 as well?
According to my book, this is not true, the gravitational potential energy constantly rises the further 'up' you go
If that's true, then do we have MASSIVE amounts of gravitational potential energy when compared to a large star a few light years away? Where did this energy come from? How come it is not being translated to kinetic potential energy and we go flying towards that star, similarly if you raised a ball (gave it GPE) and dropped it, it would fall to the ground with final velocity of sqrt(gh)?
Im confused >_<
as an object moves further and further away, the value of g decreases and approaches 0.. if this is true, then wouldn't potential energy approach 0 as well?
According to my book, this is not true, the gravitational potential energy constantly rises the further 'up' you go
If that's true, then do we have MASSIVE amounts of gravitational potential energy when compared to a large star a few light years away? Where did this energy come from? How come it is not being translated to kinetic potential energy and we go flying towards that star, similarly if you raised a ball (gave it GPE) and dropped it, it would fall to the ground with final velocity of sqrt(gh)?
Im confused >_<