Question

You move a ball of mass m away from a sphere of mass M.(a) Does the gravitational
potential energy of the system of ball and sphere increase or decrease? (b) Is positive
work or negative work done by the gravitational force between the ball and the sphere?​

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) The potential energy of the system will decrease as it is inversely proportional to the distance between the two masses.

(b) The work done by the gravitational force is negative, because force is acting inwards while displacement is in opp. direction.