Nivale Baxendell

Determination of the Force of Gravity

Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics/motion and start simulation “Gravity
Force Lab”

Qualitative Observations
1. How does the changing the separation of the objects
affect the force between them? (increases, decreases, not
affected)
The force between them decreases.

2. What happens to the force between the objects when

mass 1 increases? (increases, decreases, not affected)
The force between the objects increases.

3. What happens to the force between the objects if Mass 2 decreases? (increases, decreases, not
affected)
The force between the objects decreases.

4. What is the ratio of the force on the blue object to the force on the red object? What if the mass of
the blue one is twice as big as the red object? Explain.
The ratio is 1:1 in all situations because according to Newton’s 3rd Law every action or force has an
equal and opposite force. So, the force on the red object by the blue is always equal to the force on
the blue object by the red. Even when the mass changes, the force ratio is constant, but the effect of
the force on the block might differ.

5. What direction are the gravitational forces acting on the objects?

Vertically down
Quantitative

1. What THREE things can we change/vary?

Mass of block 1, mass of block 2, distance between
2. Select an independent and dependent variable and constant

a. DV : force

b. IV : mass of block 2

c. C mass of block 1 (100 kg) , distance between blocks (6 meters)

3. Collect 10 data points and graph

Nivale Baxendell

Questions
1. Explain why varying the second mass had the same effect on the force as varying the first mass.

The force is always directly proportional to the mass in this situation (both Mass 1 and Mass 2), and
when either mass is changed, the gravitational force is the same no matter what.

2. What is the relationship (proportionality) between Mass and force? What happens to the force if
you double the mass of the blue object? What happens to the force if you then triple the red
object’s masses?

The relationship between mass and force is a direct linear relationship. Force is doubled when the
mass of the blue object is doubles, and force is tripled when you triple the red object’s mass.

3. What is the relationship between distance and the force of gravity? What happens if you triple the
distance between the objects? Half the distance between them?

The force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. When the distance is
tripled, the force will be divided by 9 due to this inversely proportional relationship, and when distance
is halved force of gravity will be multiplied by 4.

4. Combine your proportions between Mass 1 (m1), Mass 2 (m2) distance (r) into a single proportion
to the Force of gravity (Fg).
Nivale Baxendell

M1 M 2
Fg ∝
r2

Show your instructor your proportionality before you continue.

5. Does your lab data for m1, m2, and r does equal Fg? Also work out your units, do they equal a unit
of force?
This data does not equal Fg but is instead proportional to it. When we work out units, they do not equal
the unit of force of a Newton (kg*m/s2). When we work out units, the unit of the proportionality value
is (kg2/m2) Since these units do not work out, there must be a constant that will make the sides of the
equation equal to one another.

6. Make a graph of Force vs. your proportionality

7. Determine the gravitational constant (G) that will satisfy your units

G= 6.67 x 10-11

8. Write your full formula and check with your instructor.

−11 M1 × M 2
F g=6.67× 10
r2