Derivation of gravitational potential using

calculus

Consider a force, F acting along the x-axis.

The potential energy of an object due to its

position, U ( x ) , can be related to the force acting on
it through the following equation:
dU ( x )
F=
dx

This tells us that the force is equal to the negative

rate of change of potential energy with distance, x
- the potential energy gradient.

In other words, the direction of the force is always

opposite the direction of increasing potential
energy.

To find the potential energy, U ( x ) , due to a force, F,

we must integrate both sides with respect to x.
This gives us the following integral relation
between the potential energy and the force:
U ( x ) = F dx

In the case of gravity, the force, F between two

masses separated at a distance, x, is given by
Newtons law of gravitation:
G m 1 m 2
F= 2
x

Where: m1 = mass of 1st object,

m2 = mass of 2nd object
x = separation
between the two masses

Here the negative sign indicates that the force is

attractive and is opposite the direction of
 increasing x values, i.e. points in the negative
direction along the x-axis.
To find the gravitational potential energy we must
substitute Newtons law of gravitation for F inside
the integral.
This gives the following:

G m 1 m2
U (x )= dx
x2

This integral can be simplified by factoring out the

constants:

1
U (x )=G m1 m2 dx
x2

We can solve this integrand using the standard

result for the integral of 1/x2:
1 1
x2 dx= x
+C

(Where C is a constant of integration)

Substituting this result gives:

G m 1 m2
U (x )= +U 0
x

Where we have defined U 0 ( U 0 = G m1 m2 C) to be

our new constant of integration.

When solving potential energy problems we must

always indicate the position where the potential
energy is zero known as the reference point.

For the potential energy due to 2 masses

separated a distance x apart. We take the
reference point for zero potential energy to be at
infinity: x =
 We can evaluate U (x ) with these (boundary)
conditions to give:
Gm1 m2
U (x=)= +U 0

Since U ( x=) = 0 and 1/ = 0, this gives: U0 = 0.

Note: strictly speaking we should not write, 1/ =

0, instead we must take the limit of 1/x as x
tends to infinity, and this will equal zero:
lim
x
( 1x )=0
Hence, the potential energy between 2 masses a
separation distance, x, apart is given by:

G m 1 m2
U (x )=
x

Typically, we will express the potential energy as a

function of r, the radial separation instead of x:

Gm1 m2
U (r )=
r

This equation is valid in two and three dimensions,

instead of constraining the point masses to be on
the x axis for one dimension.
Verifying the gravitational potential energy
equation

To show that the gravitational potential energy,

U(x) is consistent with Newtons Law of gravitation
we will determine the force, F, from its
relation to the potential gradient:
dU
F=
dx
Substituting for U(x) gives:

d G m1 m 2
F=
dx ( x )
=G m1 m2
d 1
()
dx x

d 1 1
Since: ()
dx x
= 2
x

Using this result we find that the force, F is:

G m 1 m 2
F= 2
x

Which is Newtons Law of gravity as we expected!

Change in gravitational potential energy between two
(radial) positions can be determined by evaluating
the integral below.
'
r =r
Gm 1 m2 '
U = 2
dr
'
r = r

'
r =r

U ( r )U ( )= [
G m1 m2
r' ]
r =
'

We choose for convenience, the reference point for

zero potential energy to be at infinity.

U ( )=0

Evaluating the limits of the expression above we get:

 U ( r )= ( G mr m )( G m m )
1 2 1 2

G m1 m2
Evaluating the term,
, requires us to evaluate
G m m2
the limit of r'
1
as r tends to infinity (i.e. a very
large number).

This can be expressed in the appropriate

mathematical form as:

lim
'
r
( Grm' m )=G m m [ lim ( r1' )]=0
1 2
1 2 '
r

The limit of 1/r as r tends to infinity can be shown

using the graph and table. Fig 1

The gravitational potential energy U(r) at the

position r, can be shown to be:
G m 1 m2
U ( r )=
r

Provide definition of why we use grav, potentials,

Provide rigorous mathematical derivations for physics

equations in a level syllabus

Rigorous explanation of work, gravitational potential

energy and calculus (diagram)

The potential energy at infinity contributes no value

to the change in potential energy

This can be explained below with our familiar example

of a spring being extended.
When the spring is extended, the potential energy
stored in the spring increases the further we extend
the spring (for increasing values of x).
dU ( x )
The potential gradient therefore is positive: dx
>
0,

However we know that the further the spring extends

the greater the (restoring) force that acts on the
spring to restore it to equilibrium.

From the equation above this tells us that the force

must act in the direction of decreasing potential
energy towards the (left) in negative x direction.

For the case of the spring being compressed