The gravitational field vector at a distance r from a point mass is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance. And the gravitational potential at a distance r is proportional to the inverse of the distance. Hence, both the gravitational force and the potential energy between any two objects fall to zero at infinity.
Consider a universe in which the gravitational field vector is proportional to just the inverse of the distance from the mass.
What would this mean for the gravitational energy? That is, what form would it have?
And what consequence would that have for the escape velocity of a projectile starting from the surface of a planet?
Would it be possible in this universe to travel to distant galaxies? Explain.
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