Equipotential - A line or surface of equal potential energy. On the Earth, a line of equal elevation is approximately an equipotential ...
(a) The equipotential surface ("mean sea level") of Earth's gravitational field.
(b) An equipotential surface that coincides with mean sea level in the open ocean.
The first equipotential surface for two massive bodies describing circular orbits around one another which forms a figure eight enclosing the two objects. The Roche lobes are the two lenticular volumes enclosing the two bodies. [H76]
Rods ...
Far from the stellar system, the equipotentials are approximately ellipsoidal and elongated parallel to the axis joining the stellar centers.
The Roche lobe is said to be bound by an “equipotential surface' in which the gravitational force exerted by the star is equal at all points.
Objects revolving with the same orbital period as the Earth will begin to move according to the contour lines showing equipotential surfaces.
A force which may be so expressed is said to be conservative, and the work done against it in motion from one given equipotential surface to another is independent of the path of the motion. See Gibbs function, potential energy.
 See also: Inertia, Gravity, Gravitation, Model, Orbit
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