Gravitational potential

In classical mechanics, the gravitational potential is a scalar field associating with each point in space the work (energy transferred) per unit mass that would be needed to move an object to that point from a fixed reference point. It is analogous to the electric potential with mass playing the role of charge. The reference point, where the potential is zero, is by convention infinitely far away from any mass, resulting in a negative potential at any finite distance.

"Gravity potential" redirects here. For Earth's gravity potential, see Geopotential. For the field of gravity potentials, see Gravitational field.

In mathematics, the gravitational potential is also known as the Newtonian potential and is fundamental in the study of potential theory. It may also be used for solving the electrostatic and magnetostatic fields generated by uniformly charged or polarized ellipsoidal bodies.

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