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Gravitation: Wong Liherng Tan Si Young Tan Sze Ming Yee Siew Qi
Gravitation: Wong Liherng Tan Si Young Tan Sze Ming Yee Siew Qi
GRAVITATION
WONG LIHERNG
TAN SI YOUNG
TAN SZE MING
YEE SIEW QI
7.1
NEWTON’S
LAW
OF
GRAVITA
TION
Newton ‘s law of gravitation states that the
force of attraction between particles is
directly proportional to their mass and
inversely proportional to the square of
distance apart.
where
The negative sign shows that the force is an
attractive force.
Case 1: Determine the force of gravitational
attraction between the earth 5.98 x 1024 kg and a 70
kg boy who is standing at sea level, a distance of
6.38 x 106 m from earth's center.
m1 = 5.98 x 1024 kg, m2 = 70 kg, r = 6.38 x 106 m, G
= 6.6726 x 10-11N-m2/kg2
7.2
GRAVITATIONAL
FIELD
STRENGTH
• A gravitational field is a region where gravitational force acts
on massive bodies. Eg . gravitaional field of the Earth.
• The gravitational field strength tells us how strong a
gravitational field is. The gravitational field strength of the
Earth near its surface is 9.81m / s2. This means an object that
is near the surface of the earth will accelerate towards it
at 9.81ms2. We could then define the gravitational field
strength as the acceleration an object will experience within
that gravitational field.
• A better definition, however, can be derived from the
equation, F = ma.
• The gravitational field strength , E at a point is the force of
gravity per unit mass exerted on a mass placed
• Gravitational field strength is a vector quantity
which measured in , though it is
perfectly acceptable to use ms − 2 for situations
where it is treated as an acceleration (such as the
acceleration of an object in free fall).
• (r > R)
• The –ve sign shows that the direction of E is in
the direction of decreasing r, that is, towards
the centre of the Earth.
• (by substituting F for mg)
g = Gm/r2
Thus, m = gr2/G
= 1.2 x 1014 kg
• 2. Estimate the gravitational field strength at
the surface of an interstellar body whose
density is 5.5 x 103kg/m3 and radius is 6.4 x
106 m.
Ans :
g = Gm/r2
and m = density x volume = D x V
= D x 4/3 x p x r3
Substitute for m in the field equation above.
Thus, g = 4pGDr/3
= 4 x p x 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.5 x 103 x 6.4 x
106/3 = 9.8 N/kg
Variation of Acceleration Due to Gravity g
with Distance r from the centre of
the Earth
• Weight = mg = gravitational force
• Acceleration due to gravity,
g=gravitational force/m
=gravitational field strength,E
# The variation of the acceleration due to gravity g with distance r
from the centre of the Earth equals the variation of the
gravitational field strength.
• For a mass m on the surface of the Earth,
weight =mg =
• The Earth’s rotation on its axis causes it to bulge at the equator and
flatten at the poles, forming an ellipsoidal shape.
• The figure below shows that the radius of the
Earth at the equator R1 is greater than the
distance of the poles from the centre of the
Earth R2.
• g α ⅟r²
• The value of g at the equator is less than the value of
g at the poles.
-The centripetal force
m(R cos Ѳ)ω² is provided
by the component of mo
In the direction to the axis
of the rotation.
-At the N-pole, Ѳ=90°
g’=g
-At the equator, Ѳ=0°
g’=g-Rω²
Gravitational Potential
P -dx m
M
R Mm
F=-G
x²
r
x
= (-G Mm )( -dx)
x²
Mm
= G x² dx
• The work done to bring the body from infinity to the point P
which is at a distance r from the centre of the Earth is
GMm
– Gravitational potential energy, U = - R
1
- GM r
R Vα
Changes in Gravitational Potential Energy
• A body of mass m on the surface of the Earth has
Mm
gravitational potential energy, U = - G R
• When the body is raised through a small height
dR, the change in its gravitational potential energy
dU is obtained by differentiating U with respect to R.
Mm
dU = G R² dR
= mg (dR)
=
Gain in gravitational potential energy of the
body when it moves from the Earth ‘s surface
to infinity.
Case 1: What is the
escape velocity on
earth with respect to
Earth's gravity?
R = 6378100 m,
G = 6.6726 x 10-11N-
m2/kg2.