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subhan2010
Jun 14, 2012, 10:19 PM
A body of mass m is moved to a height h equal to the radius of earth. The increase in potential energy is..

ebaines
Jun 15, 2012, 06:15 AM
a body of mass m is moved to a height h equal to the radius of earth. the increase in potential energy is....?

The increase in PE is equal to the work performed on the body , which is:

W = \int_a^b \vec F \cdot \vec ds.

The force \vec F is the force due to gravity, which is


\vec F = \frac {GMm}{r^2}


So the integral becomes

\Delta PE = \int _a ^ b \frac {GMm} {r^2} dr =\frac { GMm} a - \frac {GMm} b


Here a = radius of earth and b = 2 times radius of earth.

subhan2010
Jun 15, 2012, 06:21 AM
Its an mcq... here ans written is 1/2 mgR

ebaines
Jun 15, 2012, 06:42 AM
its an mcq....here ans written is 1/2 mgR

I don't know what an "mcq" is, but 1/2 mgR is equivalent to what I wrote. Sub R for a, 2R for b, and recall that g = GM/R^2.

subhan2010
Jun 15, 2012, 09:51 AM
Multiple choice question... thank u... my mistake.