Gravitational Energy

It is the energy that an object has or acquires when its position changes as a result of being in a gravitational field. Gravitational energy can be defined as energy that is connected to gravitational force or gravity.

Table of Contents:

• Gravitational Energy
• Gravitational Potential Energy
• Gravitational Force
• Gravitational Force in Action
• FAQs

Gravitational Energy

The energy that is stored in a body as a result of its physical characteristics, such as the object’s mass or position, is known as potential energy. It is the force that an object might develop if it were set in motion.

Potential energy can take on a variety of shapes, including elastic potential energy, gravitational potential energy, electric (electromagnetic) potential energy, and nuclear potential energy. An object’s mass, height, or vertical position all have a direct relationship to its potential energy.

Examples

In daily life, gravitational energy is employed in the following ways:

• A heavier burden.
• A car that is parked on a hilltop.
• before it is released, a yo-yo.
• Before it breaks, put a book on the table.
• Gravitational energy is used to move the water out of the faucet.
• Because of gravitational force, we can comfortably walk, sit, and stand.

Gravitational Potential Energy 

The amount of work required to move a unit mass from infinity to any given point in the gravitational field is known as the gravitational potential. It establishes a body’s direction of motion within another body’s gravitational field. The potential energy of the unit mass held at that location is equal to gravitational potential.

The energy held in an object that is kept in a vertical position by the force of gravity pulling it down is known as gravitational potential energy. The mass and height of an object affect the gravitational potential energy.

• The Gravitational Potential is, V = – GM/r

 where,

 G = Gravitational constant = 6.67×10-11 Nm2 /kg2

 M= mass of the larger body around which there is a gravitational field.

 r = distance between bodies.

 Formula of Gravitational Potential Energy:

• The Formula of Gravitational Potential Energy is, 

 U = mgh

 where,

 m = mass of the object (kg)

 g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2

 h = height  (m)

Gravitational Force

It is one of the world’s natural forces. There is an attraction between any two masses made of matter that is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

Gravitational force is one of the fundamental forces of nature, along with electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. It is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the sun, moons in orbit around planets, and objects on the surface of the earth. The strength of the gravitational force between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them. The larger the masses of the objects, the greater the gravitational force between them, and the farther apart they are, the weaker the gravitational force.

In addition to the examples of gravitational energy given earlier, there are many other applications of gravitational energy in everyday life. For instance, hydroelectric power plants generate electricity by converting the potential energy of water stored in dams into kinetic energy, which then drives turbines. Similarly, roller coasters use gravitational energy to propel passengers through loops and twists by converting potential energy into kinetic energy and back again. Gravitational energy is also important in astrophysics, where it plays a critical role in understanding the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies, and other celestial bodies.

Gravitational Force in Action

A straightforward device that converts gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy and back again is the pendulum. The bob has no kinetic energy when it is at the top of its swing, but it has a maximum gravitational potential energy. Gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the bob swings downward, causing it to accelerate.

1. The bob has its highest kinetic energy and lowest gravitational potential energy at the bottom of its swing.
2. The bob’s kinetic energy is converted back into gravitational potential energy as it swings upward.
3. It again has no kinetic energy at the top of its swing, but its gravitational potential energy is at its highest.
4. Because some energy is also transferred to the environment as heat with each swing, it should be noted that the bob’s swing will decrease over time.

Gravitational Energy FAQS

Grade 6 Science Worksheets

• Inquiry process
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• Ethical Practices
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• Biotic and Abiotic Factors
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• Kinetic and Potential Energy
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• Matter and its Structure
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• Force and Motion
• Electricity and Magnetism
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• Introduction to Life Science
• The Origin & History of Life On Earth
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• Parts of a Cell
• The Cell Cycle
• How Living Organisms Get Energy
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• The Human Respiratory System
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• The Human Nervous System
• The Human Muscular System
• The Human Skeletal System

Grade 6 Math Worksheets

• Probability
• Ratio
• Sequence & Patterns
• Division Word Problems  (New)
• Solving two step equations (New)
• One Step Equation  (New)
• Place Value  (New)
• Two Step Equation  (New)
• To convert percents to decimals and vice versa  (New)
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