Gravitational field:

A space surrounding an object where another object experiences a gravitational force.

The arrows on the field lines show us the direction of the gravitational force on a mass in the
field. The separation of the field lines indicate the strength.

Gravitational field strength:

At a point is the gravitational force exerted per unit mass on a small
object placed at that point in the gravitational field..​force felt per unit
mass in a gravitational field*
**as distance increases outward, force is inward, direction of force
and distance is opposite

Gravitational force is
attractive, gravitational
potential at infinity is
zero, decrease in
potential energy
energy as masses
approach or
displacement and
force in opposite
direction

In a gravitational field
the weight and force is
the same near the
surface, so the
acceleration is the same
g=f/m and a=f/m

Gravitational potential:
Is the amount of work done required to put one kg object from infinity to that point.

g.p= GM/r ΔG.P x m= ΔGPE = ΔKE

g.p.e= g.p x m

Therefore
g.p.e= GMm/r
proof:
gpe= mgh
g=GM/r​2
Therefore gpe= m.(GM/r​2​).h
gpe=GMm/r

Newton's law of gravity:

Any ​two point masses​ attract each other with a force that is ​directly
proportional​ to the ​product of their masses​ and ​inversely proportional to
the square of their separation.

Gravitational field constant =​ ​6.67x10​-11

Circular orbit:

2​
F​grav =GMm/r​
​ --- 1

2​
F​circ =
​ mv​ /r --- 2

When v is the linear speed of the planet. As has just been stated. It is orbiting around an object.

F​grav​ = F​circ

GMm/r​2​ = mv​2​/r

Since v = 2𝜋r/T

∴ GMm/r​2​ = m(4𝜋​2​r​2​/T​2​)/r
Simplifying,
T​2​ = (4𝜋​2​/GM)r​3​ ​** VERY IMPORTANT

This relation is called ​Kepler’s third law of planetary motion​.

Geostationary orbit:
An object that is in an ​equatorial orbit​ with exactly the s​ ame period of rotation as the earth​ (24
hours). And move in the ​same direction of Earth's rotation​ (west to east) so they are always
above the same point on the equator.

Acceleration of free fall:

For a free falling body near the earths surface the acceleration is given by force/mass where
the force is the gravitational attraction.
We have already seen that the gravitational field strength is defined as force per unit mass,
thus,

Gravitational field strength g is equal to the acceleration of free fall.

For a uniform sphere,

g=f/m = GM/r​2

At the surface of the earth, we can assume that the earth is approximately homogeneous and,
therefore, the equation applies.
The radius r of the earth is approximately 6.4x10​3​Km. If we move a few kilometers h above the
earth's surface, then the acceleration of free fall becomes

Gh = GM/(r+h)​2

Now, h is much smaller than r and so

R​2​ = (r+h)​2
And
g=gh

For small distances above the earth's surface, g is approximately constant and is called the
acceleration of free fall

Escape velocity= (2GM/R)^½