- #1
e(ho0n3
- 1,357
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Hi everyone,
Here is the problem: Two masses m and n are initially infinitely far appart from each other. Calculate the amount of work to get them a distance R from each other.
Taking mass m as my reference point, the potential energy of mass n a distance r from m is U(r) = -Gmn/r. Now, if only conservative forces are involved -W = U(r') - U(r) where W is the work need to move a mass a distance r' - r as I understand it. So -W = U(R) - 0 => W = -U(R) = Gmn/R. However, the book where I got this problem from has as the solution -Gmn/R. That means either W = U(r') - U(r) or U(r) = Gmn/r, but these would be contradictions.
Confuzzled here,
e(ho0n3
Here is the problem: Two masses m and n are initially infinitely far appart from each other. Calculate the amount of work to get them a distance R from each other.
Taking mass m as my reference point, the potential energy of mass n a distance r from m is U(r) = -Gmn/r. Now, if only conservative forces are involved -W = U(r') - U(r) where W is the work need to move a mass a distance r' - r as I understand it. So -W = U(R) - 0 => W = -U(R) = Gmn/R. However, the book where I got this problem from has as the solution -Gmn/R. That means either W = U(r') - U(r) or U(r) = Gmn/r, but these would be contradictions.
Confuzzled here,
e(ho0n3