Two objects have masses of $42 MG$ and $26 MG$ . How much does the gravitational potential energy between the objects change if the distance between them changes from $8 m$ to $9 m$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2017-07-17T22:14:39

We will use the formula $U=-G(Mm)/r$

We will first calculate the potential energy at 8m

$U_1=-(6.67*10^(-11)*42*26*10^6)/8=-0.009$ Joules

$U_2=-(6.67*10^(-11)*42*26*10^6)/9=-0.008$ Joules

so $ΔU=U_2-U_1=0.001$ Joules

the change is positive because the distance gets bigger

(I assumed MG is megagrams.)

Two objects have masses of 42 MG42 MG and 26 MG26 MG. How much does the gravitational potential energy between the objects change if the distance between them changes from 8 m8 m to 9 m9 m?