The gravitational field of a spherical object at any distance from it points back to the center of the object. That is, in the field simulator it has arrows toward the center of the sphere. Put a test mass in this field and it will fall toward the center with increasing speed following the line of force. Locally, the field is the acceleration of gravity at that point. Now, how would you move a small mass so that you would not have to do work on it during the move? That work would be the change its energy. You would move it radially
The gravitational field of a spherical object at any distance from it points back to the center of the object. That is, in the field simulator it has arrows toward the center of the sphere. Put a test mass in this field and it will fall toward the center with increasing speed following the line of force. Locally, the field is the acceleration of gravity at that point.
Now, how would you move a small mass so that you would not have to do work on it during the move? That work would be the change its energy.
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You would move it radially toward the center. |
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You would move it radially away from the center. |
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You would move it perpendicularly to the line of force, that is, move it in a local plane that is perpendicular to the radius at that point. |
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There is no way to do this. Any displacement direction will take work. |
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