The gravitational potential gradient represents the rate of change of gravitational potential with respect to distance. It quantifies how rapidly the gravitational potential changes as one moves away from a massive object. The gravitational potential gradient (g) is related to the gravitational field strength and is a measure of the force per unit mass experienced by an object in a gravitational field.
In simpler terms, the gravitational potential gradient provides information about the strength of the gravitational field at a particular point. A higher gradient indicates a stronger gravitational field, implying a more rapid change in potential with distance.
Understanding the gravitational potential gradient is essential in physics and celestial mechanics, as it helps describe the intensity of gravitational forces and their impact on the motion of objects in a gravitational field.
