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Can the gravitaional potential energy of an object be negative?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Yes. Any object that is above a reference level has positive potential energy; anything below that reference level has negative potential energy. For example, if the chosen reference level is the ground level, anything below the ground level has negative potential energy. Please note that the choice of reference level is arbitrary. What matters is the DIFFERENCE in potential energy between two positions - and that doesn't change, whether you choose (for example) the ground level, or some other level, as a reference level.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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What is the amount of potential energy possessed by an elevated object is equal to?
The potential energy is EP= mgh where g is the gravitaional acceleration and h the elevation.
What does not have potential energy?
Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).
Can the gravitational potential energy of an object be negative?
No. That would require a negative mass or a negative distance, neither of which is possible.
Can an object have a negative potential energy?
Yes - if it is below the chosen reference level.
Is potential energy measured in consumption or expenditure?
Potential energy is stored energy. It has nothing to do with consuming or using energy - although you need to use some other energy to increase an object's potential energy. For example, in the case of gravitational potential energy, an object above ground level (or any other reference level chosen) has a positive potential energy, while an object below ground level has a negative potential energy.
What is the amount of potential energy possessed by an elevated object is equal to?
The potential energy is EP= mgh where g is the gravitaional acceleration and h the elevation.
What does not have energy?
Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).
What does not have potential energy?
Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).Any object that is at "level zero" has zero potential energy. In the case of gravitational potential energy, this level is sometimes defined to be ground level, sometimes (in Astronomy) at an infinite distance (in this case, any object that is closer than infinity has a negative potential energy).
What is the significance of negative energy of electron in an orbit?
Potential energy levels are often given as negative numbers. In the case of an electron, it's potential energy due to its location relative to the positively charged nucleus; the further away from the nucleus, the higher the energy level of the electron. So for convenience, physicists like to define potential energy levels at infinite distance (or separation) as "zero", and all others become negative. Since these forces (gravity, electromagnetic force) fall off with the square of distance, potential energies at finite (nonzero) distances aren't "negative infinity".
Can the gravitational potential energy of an object be negative?
No. That would require a negative mass or a negative distance, neither of which is possible.
Can an object have a negative potential energy?
Yes - if it is below the chosen reference level.
What is the gravitational potential at infinity?
With potential energy, what matters is the difference in potential energy, not the energy in absolute terms. To simplify calculations, the gravitational potential at infinity is arbitrarily set to zero. This gives objects that are nearer than infinity (to any object that attracts them gravitationally), a negative potential energy.With potential energy, what matters is the difference in potential energy, not the energy in absolute terms. To simplify calculations, the gravitational potential at infinity is arbitrarily set to zero. This gives objects that are nearer than infinity (to any object that attracts them gravitationally), a negative potential energy.With potential energy, what matters is the difference in potential energy, not the energy in absolute terms. To simplify calculations, the gravitational potential at infinity is arbitrarily set to zero. This gives objects that are nearer than infinity (to any object that attracts them gravitationally), a negative potential energy.With potential energy, what matters is the difference in potential energy, not the energy in absolute terms. To simplify calculations, the gravitational potential at infinity is arbitrarily set to zero. This gives objects that are nearer than infinity (to any object that attracts them gravitationally), a negative potential energy.
Is potential energy measured in consumption or expenditure?
Potential energy is stored energy. It has nothing to do with consuming or using energy - although you need to use some other energy to increase an object's potential energy. For example, in the case of gravitational potential energy, an object above ground level (or any other reference level chosen) has a positive potential energy, while an object below ground level has a negative potential energy.
When you lift an object energy is transferred to an object which gives the object?
When you lift an object, the energy transferred to the object is called gravitational potential energy.
When negative work is done on a moving object it's kenetic energy?
When negative work is done on the object, the object's energy decreases. This MAY be kinetic energy, but some other form of energy may increase instead, for example, potential energy or heat energy.
Can any object have mechanical energy even if its momentum is zero. Explain?
Yes - mechanical energy includes both gravitational potential energy, and kinetic energy. If an object's momentum is zero, then its kinetic energy will also be zero, but its potential energy can be positive or negative, depending on whether the object is above or below the chosen reference level.
How does an object get gravitational potential energy?
An object gets gravitational potential energy by
