If the distance between two objects increases, their gravitational potential energy will ________.

CONCEPT:

• Gravitational Potential Energy: The energy of an object due to its position in a gravitational field.

where U is the potential energy, m₁ is the mass first object, m₂ is the mass of the second object, r is the distance between the earth and the object, and G is the gravitational constant.

• Potential energy at infinity (r = ∞) is zero (U = 0).

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EXPLANATION:

Gravitational potential energy is given by

If the distance between the objects r increases,  will decrease.

If  decreases,  will also decrease.

If  decrease,  will increase due to -ve sign.

• So as the distance between two objects increases, their gravitational potential energy will increase.
• Hence the correct answer is option 1.