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Questions and Answers
According to classical mechanics, the gravitational potential is a scalar field that associates each point in space with what?
According to classical mechanics, the gravitational potential is a scalar field that associates each point in space with what?
- The distance between two masses
- The force of gravity at that point
- The work done per unit mass to move an object to that point from a fixed reference point (correct)
- The speed of an object at that point
What is the role of mass in the gravitational potential?
What is the role of mass in the gravitational potential?
- Mass determines the speed of an object at that point
- Mass determines the distance between two masses
- Mass plays the role of charge in the electric potential (correct)
- Mass has no role in the gravitational potential
What is the reference point for the gravitational potential?
What is the reference point for the gravitational potential?
- The reference point is at the surface of the object
- The reference point is infinitely far away from any mass (correct)
- The reference point is at the center of mass of the object
- The reference point is at a fixed distance from the object
What is the gravitational potential energy at a location equal to?
What is the gravitational potential energy at a location equal to?
What is the gravitational potential also known as in mathematics?
What is the gravitational potential also known as in mathematics?