As some mass approaches a planet, what is the energy transformation that is occuring?
I think it would be gravitational potential energy being converted into kinetic energy.
I'm thinking of the numbers though. U = GMeMo/r. As radius, or the distance to the planet, decreases, the grav. pot. energy is increasing. Then the kinetic energy is increasing. Both are increasing!
So either my understanding is wrong, my math is wrong, or physics is wrong.
I really hope its the last one
thanks.
I think it would be gravitational potential energy being converted into kinetic energy.
I'm thinking of the numbers though. U = GMeMo/r. As radius, or the distance to the planet, decreases, the grav. pot. energy is increasing. Then the kinetic energy is increasing. Both are increasing!
So either my understanding is wrong, my math is wrong, or physics is wrong.
I really hope its the last one
thanks.