Question

27) Why is gravitational potential energy always negative​

Answer 1

Answer:

We place the zero point of gravitational potential energy at a distance r of infinity. This makes all values of the gravitational potential energy negative. It turns out that it makes sense to do this because as the distance r becomes large, the gravitational force tends rapidly towards zero.

Explanation:

ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴀs ʙʀᴀɪɴʟɪsᴛ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ

ʜɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴ ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

The gravitational potential energy near a planet is then negative, since gravity does positive work as the mass approaches. This negative potential is indicative of a "bound state"; once a mass is near a large body, it is trapped until something can provide enough energy to allow it to escape.