Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan
That's all OK, provided the small mass is on the surface of the big mass.
However, it is implied both masses are at some distance from each other.
If the big mass collapsed into smaller volume (increasing density), the field strength at the place where small mass is (was) is still the same.
Therefore, the energy required for small mass to be removed further (out of the g well) is still the same.
Unless the distance of the small mass changed.
But you said we are talking only about big mass density.. so I'm still not with you on this.
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The model is based on the small mass residing on the surface of the large mass. This is because the small mass resides in the lowest possible gravitational potential energy state.
If you shrunk the large mass and kept the small mass at the same distance, the energy required to remove the small mass out of the well increases.
The reason for this is that small mass is no longer in lowest possible gravitational potential energy state. You require energy to keep the small mass at the same distance
plus the energy to remove the mass out of the well.
The alternative is that the small mass drops to the lowest potential energy state in which case it is deeper in the well.
Regards
Steven