Gravitational potential refers to the scalar field associated with gravitational forces in a given region of space. It represents the amount of work done per unit mass by the gravitational force in moving an object from a reference point to a specific location.
In simpler terms, gravitational potential indicates the potential energy per unit mass an object possesses at a certain point in a gravitational field. The concept is derived from gravitational potential energy, which is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field.
Understanding gravitational potential is crucial in celestial mechanics, where it is utilized to analyze the motion of planets, satellites, and other celestial bodies within a gravitational field. It is often expressed in units of energy per unit mass, such as joules per kilogram.
