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moon and Earth gravitational potential

Hi all .... I can't really picture what I am supposed to be drawing below. Can anyone help? :

It's from an AQA A level problem : 'Sketch a graph using axes to indicate how the gravitational potential due to the Moon varies with distance along a line outwards from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon'.

Reply 1

Original post
by Yerffoeg
Hi all .... I can't really picture what I am supposed to be drawing below. Can anyone help? :

It's from an AQA A level problem : 'Sketch a graph using axes to indicate how the gravitational potential due to the Moon varies with distance along a line outwards from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon'.




Reply 2

Original post
by Yerffoeg
Hi all .... I can't really picture what I am supposed to be drawing below. Can anyone help? :

It's from an AQA A level problem : 'Sketch a graph using axes to indicate how the gravitational potential due to the Moon varies with distance along a line outwards from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon'.

I did not explain the graph as I think the drawing in this reply is self-explanatory.

However, if you have a problem in "understanding" the "resultant potential", let me know. :smile:

Reply 3

Original post
by Eimmanuel
I did not explain the graph as I think the drawing in this reply is self-explanatory.
However, if you have a problem in "understanding" the "resultant potential", let me know. :smile:

Thanks Emmanuel!!! ok so the blue line is 'resultant V(subg)' can we say that? And the red and blue lines both tend toward their own respective max V(subg)....anyway thanks ...ithis is a great help. I tried googling it without much success . 😀

Reply 4

Original post
by Yerffoeg
Thanks Emmanuel!!! ok so the blue line is 'resultant V(subg)' can we say that? And the red and blue lines both tend toward their own respective max V(subg)....anyway thanks ...ithis is a great help. I tried googling it without much success . 😀

sorry, autocorrect Eimmanuel!!

Reply 5

Original post
by Yerffoeg
Thanks Emmanuel!!! ok so the blue line is 'resultant V(subg)' can we say that? And the red and blue lines both tend toward their own respective max V(subg)....anyway thanks ...ithis is a great help. I tried googling it without much success . 😀


Yes the blue curve is the "resultant" gravitational potential curve.

And the red and blue lines both tend toward their own respective max V(subg)


Do you mean red and green curves?

Reply 6

Yes, sorry I meant red & green curves; I was distracted & not colour blind ha ha 🤣. Thanks again for your help , much appreciated!

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