Gravitational potential is a measure of the potential energy per unit mass at a point in a gravitational field. It decreases (becomes more negative) as one moves closer to a mass, like a planet or star. This means that objects deeper in a gravitational field are at a lower energy state compared to those farther away.
Unlike gravitational force, which points toward the mass and changes with direction, gravitational potential is a scalar quantity—it has magnitude but no direction. It helps describe how much work is required to move an object within a gravitational field.
For example, to lift a satellite from low Earth orbit to a higher orbit, energy must be added to increase its gravitational potential, since it’s moving away from the Earth’s center where potential is lower. This concept is fundamental in orbital mechanics, astrophysics, and general relativity.