Q. A body of mass $m$ rises to a height $h = R/5$ from the surface of earth, where $R$ is the radius of earth. If $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of earth, the increase in potential energy is

A) $(4/5)mgh$
B) $(5/6)mgh$
C) $(6/7)mgh$
D) $mgh$
Explanation

(b) Gravitational force on a body at a distance $x$ from the centre of earth $F = \frac{GMm}{x^{2}}$
Work done,
$W = \int_{R}^{R + h}{F\ dx = \int_{R}^{R + h}{\frac{GM\ m}{x^{2}}dx}}$
$= GMm\left\lbrack - \frac{1}{x} \right\rbrack_{R}^{R + h} = mgR^{2}\left\lbrack \frac{1}{R} - \frac{1}{R + h} \right\rbrack$
This work done appears as increase in potential energy
$\mathrm{\Delta}E_{p} = mgR^{2}\left\lbrack \frac{1}{R} - \frac{1}{R + h} \right\rbrack$
$= mg(5h)^{2}\left\lbrack \frac{1}{5h} - \frac{1}{6h} \right\rbrack = \frac{5}{6}mgh$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

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