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Gravitational Potential Energy for Systems of Masses definitions Flashcards

Gravitational Potential Energy for Systems of Masses definitions
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  • Gravitational Potential Energy
    Energy due to the position of masses in a gravitational field, calculated as a scalar quantity.
  • Scalar Quantity
    A physical quantity that has magnitude but no direction, such as energy.
  • Equilateral Triangle
    A triangle with all sides of equal length, simplifying distance calculations in physics problems.
  • Mass Pair
    Two masses considered together for calculating gravitational potential energy between them.
  • Gravitational Constant
    A universal constant denoted by 'g', used in calculating gravitational forces and energies.
  • Negative Energy
    Energy value indicating attraction in gravitational interactions, typical for potential energy.
  • System of Masses
    A collection of masses whose interactions are analyzed, often in gravitational studies.
  • Distance
    The separation between two masses, crucial for calculating gravitational potential energy.
  • Joules
    The SI unit of energy, used to express gravitational potential energy values.
  • Sigma
    A symbol representing the sum of quantities, used in calculating total potential energy.
  • Vector Decomposition
    Breaking down a vector into components, not needed for scalar quantities like energy.
  • Energy Addition
    The process of summing scalar energy values, such as potential energies in a system.
  • Mass Labeling
    Assigning identifiers to masses to keep track of them in calculations.
  • Shortcut
    A method to simplify calculations, such as recognizing proportional relationships.
  • Practice
    Repetitive exercise to gain familiarity with concepts, encouraged for mastering gravitational calculations.