Potential Energy of Object After Earth Disappears

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In summary, the conversation discusses the scenario of an object being thrown into the sky from the Earth's surface and what happens to its potential energy if the Earth were to disappear. The conclusion is that without the Earth's gravitational pull, the object's potential energy would eventually become zero. However, there is a question about the total energy and conservation laws being violated due to the disappearance of the Earth.
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eminent_youtom
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earth disappear!

Suppose an object is thrown onto the sky from the surface of the earth. After it reaches certain height, Earth disappears without disturbing the surrounding or the atmosphere.
what happens to the potential energy of the object.
as there will be no any gravitational pull, eventually, potential energy of the object will be zero. However, my question is what happens to the potential energy (Mgh). how is the total energy going to conserve
 
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What happened to the earth? As soon as you vanished the Earth you violated conservation laws. Why do you expect conseveration laws to be valid for your test object?
 
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?

Without the presence of Earth, the object would no longer be subject to the force of gravity and would continue to move in a straight line with constant velocity. As it moves further away from Earth, it would lose its potential energy (Mgh) and gain kinetic energy due to its motion. Eventually, all of the potential energy would be converted into kinetic energy and the total energy of the object would remain constant, in accordance with the law of conservation of energy. However, it is important to note that this scenario is purely hypothetical and impossible in reality, as the disappearance of Earth would have significant impacts on the entire universe.
 

FAQ: Potential Energy of Object After Earth Disappears

What is potential energy?

Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or configuration. It is the energy that an object has the potential to release and convert into other forms, such as kinetic energy.

What is the potential energy of an object on Earth?

The potential energy of an object on Earth is dependent on its mass, height, and the strength of the gravitational field. It can be calculated using the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object.

What would happen to an object's potential energy if Earth disappeared?

If Earth disappeared, the object would no longer be affected by the gravitational field and would lose its potential energy. It would essentially have no potential energy as there would be no force acting on it.

Could an object's potential energy increase without Earth's presence?

Yes, an object's potential energy could increase without Earth's presence if it is placed within the gravitational field of another massive object, such as a planet or a star. The object's potential energy would then be dependent on the strength of the gravitational field of that object.

Is it possible for an object to have negative potential energy without Earth?

Yes, it is possible for an object to have negative potential energy without Earth. This can occur when an object is placed in a location where the potential energy is defined to be zero, such as at an infinite distance from a massive object. In this case, the object's potential energy would be negative when it is closer to the massive object, and it would decrease as it moves further away.

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