Question

Gravitational potential energy is negative. That implies
A. Energy is rising along the negative x-axis
B. A practical is trapped in the potential
C. The particle is moving in the opposite direction
D. Energy is decreasing in the direction of motion of the particle

Answer 1

To answer this question, we need to define gravitational potential energy and understand why it is negative. Also, think in terms of work done by gravity to simplify things.

Complete answer:
Gravitational potential energy is the energy acquired or possessed by an object in the presence of a gravitational field due to a change in its position. From the description, we can say that Gravitational potential is directly attached to the gravitational force of gravity.

To understand gravitational potential energy, take two pencils or any object and place them on the table and hold the other above the table, so the one at the table has a lower gravitational potential energy than the one above the table.

When a body is separated from the surface of the earth, gravity wants to pull the body and make the separation zero or the minimum possible. The energy which does that is the gravitational potential energy. And if we look closely, the gravitational potential energy does work opposite to the body. Which makes the gravitational potential energy negative.

Now if the body moves out of the range of the gravitational potential energy, it becomes impossible to pull it back so the gravitational potential does a negative work only when the body is in range of the gravitational potential energy.

Therefore the correct answer is B.

Note: The point where the gravitational influence becomes zero on a body, the body goes out of the gravitational field and such points where the gravity has no influence is called a reference point.