Question

A spaceship orbiting Jupiter spends six days gradually moving farther from Jupiter. During this time, the gravitational potential energy of the spaceship...

Group of answer choices

becomes less negative

becomes more positive

becomes less positive

stays the same

becomes more negative

Answer 1

Ans:The gravitational potential energy of the spaceship becomes less negative.

The gravitational potential energy of a body is always negative. It is the work done in bringing a body from infinity to a point. For a body to leave its orbit it has to be given energy. So energy is supplied to it. This make gravitational potential energy less negative. Thus, if the spaceship moves further away from the jupiter then its gravitational potential energy becomes less negative.