Consider the following statements regarding gravitational potential and gravitational potential energy in a uniform gravitational field: 1. Gravitational potential is defined as the work done per unit mass in bringing a test mass from infinity to a given point. 2. The SI unit of gravitational potential is joule per kilogram. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Gravitational potential at any point in a gravitational field is indeed defined as the work done in bringing a unit test mass from infinity to that point without acceleration, and its standard SI unit is joule per kilogram. Both statements correctly describe fundamental gravitational parameters governed by Newton law of universal gravitation. Gravitational potential energy is a scalar quantity associated with the configuration of a system of masses. The universal gravitational constant was measured experimentally by Henry Cavendish.