Question

State the Gravitational potential due to a point mass.

Answer 1

Let M be a point mass producing gravitational field. We want to find potential at point P. 

A test mass m₀ is taken from P towards infinite. At some position in this course, force on it is given by

If the displacement be dx, the work done by F_x is given by

Now the total work done in moving it from p to Wis given by integration. That is,