Question

what is the difference between gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential.

Answer 1

Dear Student,

The gravitational potential (V) is the potential energy (U) per unit mass: where m is the mass of the object. Potential energy is equal (in magnitude, but negative) to the work done by the gravitational field moving a body to its given position in space from infinity.
$$\begin{gathered} gravitationalpotentialatpointRfromthemassm \\ V=\frac{Gm}{R} \\ letsupposeatthispointamassmisplacedthenpotentialenrgyoftheimass \\ U=\frac{Gmm}{R} \\ Regards \end{gathered}$$