Page 1 of 2
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 11, No. 6
Publication Date: December 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/aivp.116.16169
Chanana, R. K. (2023). Falling Bodies on Earth at Constant Acceleration Due to Gravity Exhibit Universal Mass-Energy Equivalence
Relation. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 11(6). 270-271.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Falling Bodies on Earth at Constant Acceleration Due to Gravity
Exhibit Universal Mass-Energy Equivalence Relation
Ravi Kumar Chanana
Self-Employed Independent Researcher, Gr. Noida-201310, India
ABSTRACT
In this research article, it is shown that a falling body on earth at constant
acceleration due to gravity will also exhibit the universal mass-energy equivalence
relation given as dE/E = dm/m, neglecting a 1 to 2 % change in potential energy due
to the change in height.
Keywords: Acceleration due to gravity, mass-energy equivalence, falling body.
SHORT COMMUNICATION
It has been shown that the big and small bodies travelling at constant velocity exhibit universal
mass-energy equivalence relation given as dE/E = dm/m. Here dE is the differential energy, E
is the total energy, dm is the differential mass and m is the total mass [1-2]. In this article it is
shown that a falling mass under constant acceleration due to gravity also exhibit the universal
mass-energy equivalence relation. Consider a ball falling from 10 or 100 or even 1000 meters
above the earth’s surface towards the earth under constant acceleration due to gravity, g which
is 9.8 meters/s2. The potential energy of the mass at a height h is given by the equation E =
mgh, where m is the mass and h is the height. The potential energy will be in Joules, if the mass
is in Kg, acceleration due to gravity g, is in meters/sec2 and height h is in meters. Differentiating
this equation once gives
dE = gh (dm) + mg (dh) (1).
Here, dm is a differential mass that can be achieved by say, taking a larger mass, dE is a
differential potential energy and dh is the differential height. Dividing this equation by the
original equation of E =mgh gives:
dE / E = dm/m + dh/h (2).
Now, gravity is known to be inversely proportional to height which is measured from the centre
of earth. The radius of the earth assuming it to be a sphere is very large at about 6370 Kms.
Therefore, g will remain constant at 9.8 meters/s2 for a considerable height h above the earth.
Neglecting the change in energy of a falling body due to 1 to 2 % change dh, of h above earth,
one can say that the equation (2) can be written as:
dE / E = dm/m (3).
Page 2 of 2
271
Chanana, R. K. (2023). Falling Bodies on Earth at Constant Acceleration Due to Gravity Exhibit Universal Mass-Energy Equivalence Relation. European
Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 11(6). 270-271.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.116.16169
This is the universal mass-energy equivalence relation, with E as energy and m as the mass. It
is thus concluded that the universal mass-energy equivalence relation is valid not only for
masses travelling at constant speed, but also for masses travelling at constant acceleration
neglecting a 1 to 2% change in energy due to change in height.
References
[1]. R.K. Channa, Linear model for the variation of semiconductor bandgap with high temperature for high
temperature electronics, IOSR-J. Electrical and Electronics Engg., 2021, 16(6), p. 5-8.
[2]. R.K. Chanana, Universal mass-energy equivalence for relativistic masses, International J. of Engg. and
Science Invention, 2023, 12(3), p. 35-36.