Question

The gravitational field is a conservative field. The work done in this field by moving an object from one point to another.
(A) Depends on the end-points only.
(B) Depends on the path along which the object is moved.
(C) Depends on the end-points as well as the path between the points.
(D) Is not zero when the object is brought back to its initial position.

Answer 1

Hint
Gravity is a force of attraction that exists between any two masses, any two bodies, any two particles. Gravity is not just the attraction between objects and the Earth. Actually, gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental forces. Because they both have mass, the two protons exert gravitational attraction on each other. Because they both have a positive electric charge, they both exert electromagnetic repulsion on each other. The attractive force that the celestial bodies exert on other masses by virtue of their total mass is called the force of gravity. The force of mutual attraction force of gravity is then that much more significant, the greater the mass of the objects between which it acts. Based on this concept we have to solve this question.

Complete step by step answer
We know that a conservative force is a type of force wherein there is no net work done during its motion in any closed loop. When we throw a ball up there is negative work done as it moves against the force of gravity and during the fall the gravity is in the positive direction. The resultant work done is zero and the force of gravity is path independent. Thus, the gravitational field is a conservative field and work done depends on the end points only.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option (A).

Note
It should be known to us that in physics, a gravitational field is a model used to explain the influence that a massive body extends into the space around itself, producing a force on another massive body. Thus, a gravitational field is used to explain gravitational phenomena, and is measured in newtons per kilogram. If an object falls from one point to another point inside a gravitational field, the force of gravity will do positive work on the object, and the gravitational potential energy will decrease by the same amount. When the book hits the floor, this kinetic energy is converted into heat and sound by the impact. Gravitational fields are vector fields. They can be visualized in two ways - either by drawing an arrow representing the gravitational field vector at that point, or by drawing field lines.