SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

CHAPTER 7: GRAVITATION
7.1 Gravitational Force and Field Strength
m1 m 2
Fg = G
LO 7.1 (a) State and use Newton's Law of gravitation, r2
GM
ac =
LO 7.1 (b) Define and use gravitational field strength, r2

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle, with a force, F that is directly
proportional to the product of the masses (𝑴 × 𝒎) and inversely proportional to the square
distance (r2) between them.
Mathematically,

𝑀𝑚
𝐹∝
𝑟2

Equation
𝑀𝑚
𝐹=𝐺
𝑟2
F : Gravitational Force.
M, m : masses of the two particles.
r : Distance between the particles.
G : Gravitational constant (universal constant)

𝐺 = 6.67 × 10−11 𝑁 𝑚2 𝑘𝑔−2

Diagram
𝐹⃗21 𝐹⃗12
m1 m2

𝑟
𝑚1 𝑚2
|𝐹⃗21 | = |𝐹⃗12 | = 𝐹 = 𝐺
𝑟2
𝐹⃗21 : 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 2 𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 1

𝐹⃗12 : 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 1 𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 2

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

How Gravitational Force varies with r?

a) The gravitational force is an inverse-square force. ( Force in inversely proportional to r)

Gravitational Force, F

F/4

F/9

Separation of
1r 2r 3r masses, r

b) Figure above is a graph of the gravitational force versus distance between two masses. As
you can see, an inverse square force decreases rapidly.
c) Doubling the distance between the masses causes the force to decrease by a factor of 4.

Example 1

Tisya and Edwin with masses of 50 kg and 70 kg respectively are sitting on a bench. They are
separated by a distance of 0.5 m. Calculate the gravitational force between Tisya and Edwin. [9.
34 x 10-7 N]

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 2

Calculate the net force on the moon due to the gravitational attraction of both the Earth and the
Sun if,

a) the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun (During solar eclipse) [2.348 x 1020 N]
b) They are at right angles to each other (first quarter Moon) [4.77 x 1020 N]

Given:

• Mass of the moon, 𝑚𝑚 = 7.35 × 1022 𝑘𝑔

• Mass of the Earth, 𝑚𝐸 = 5.98 × 1024 𝑘𝑔
• Mass of the Sun, 𝑚𝑠 = 1.99 × 1030 𝑘𝑔
• Distance between Earth and Moon = 3.84 × 105 𝑘𝑚
• Distance between Sun and Moon = 1.50 × 108 𝑘𝑚

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 3

A 200 kg object and a 500 kg object are separated by 4 m.

a) Find the net gravitational force exerted by these objects on a 50.0 kg object placed
midway between them [2.5 x 10-7 N]
b) At what position can the 50.0 kg object be placed so as to experience a net force of zero
from the other two objects? [1.55 m]

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Gravitational Field (Gravitational Field Strength)

GM
b) Define and use gravitational field strength, a c =
r2
Definition

Gravitational Field is defined as the gravitational force per unit mass of a body (test mass) place
at a point.

or

𝐹 Unit: m s-2
𝑎𝑔 =
𝑚
Direction: Same as gravitational force
𝑎𝑔 : Gravitational field Gravitational field is also known as gravitational acceleration.

F : Gravitational force Vector quantity

m : mass (test mass)

Derivation Diagram
M
𝐹
𝑎𝑔 = (1) 𝑎𝑔 P
𝑚
𝑀𝑚 m
𝐹=𝐺 (2)
𝑟2
𝑀𝑚
𝐺 2
𝑎𝑔 = 𝑟
𝑚 r
𝑎𝑔 : Gravitational field
𝑀 M : Mass
𝑎𝑔 = 𝐺 m : test mass
𝑟2
r : distance between a point and mass M

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 4

Determine the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at a point

a) 5000 km above the Earth’s surface. [3.08 ms-2]

b) On the Earth surface. [9.80 ms-2]

(Given Mass of the Earth, 𝑚𝐸 = 5.98 × 1024 𝑘𝑔 , radius of the Earth, 𝑅𝐸 = 6.38 × 106 𝑚)

Graph of 𝒂𝒈 against r

Explanation

R 1) 𝑟 < 𝑅: 𝑎𝑔 ∝ 𝑟
2) 𝑟 = 𝑅: 𝑎𝑔 = 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚 𝑠 −2
3) 𝑟 > 𝑅:
𝑀 1
𝑎𝑔 = 𝐺 2 , 𝑎𝑔 ∝ 2
𝑟 𝑟

𝑎𝑔

r
0
R
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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION Negative work done
because object is
moved from infinity
(value of U is zero)
7.2 Gravitational Potential
to r
GMm
LO 7.2(a) a) Define and use gravitational potential energy, U = −
r
Definition: The work done by a gravitational force to move an object with mass m from ∞ to a
point r.

GMm
Equation: U =−
r G = Gravitational constant

Unit: Joule (J) m M = mass of a planet

m = mass OF AN OBJECT
M r
r = distance of m from the centre of M

Example 6

A satellite has a mass of 100 kg and is located at 2.00×106 𝑚 above the surface of Earth.
What is the potential energy associated with the satellite at this location? [Ans:-4.76×𝟏09 𝑱]

(Given Mass of the Earth, 𝑚𝐸 = 5.98 × 1024 𝑘𝑔 , radius of the Earth, 𝑅𝐸 = 6.38 × 106 𝑚)

Example 7

After the Sun exhausts its nuclear fuel, its ultimate fate may be to collapse to a white dwarf
state. In this state, it would have approximately the same mass as it has now, but its radius
would be equal to the radius of Earth. Calculate the gravitational potential energy associated
with a 1.00 kg object at the surface of the white dwarf. [Ans: -2.08×𝟏𝟎𝟏 ]

(Given Mass of the Sun, 𝑚𝑆 = 1.989 × 1030 𝑘𝑔 , radius, 𝑟 = 6.37 × 106 𝑚)

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 8

The moon has a mass of 7.35×1022 𝑘𝑔 and a radius of 1740 km.

a) A probe of mass 100 kg is dropped from a height 1 km onto the Moon’s surface.
__Calculate its change in gravitational potential energy. [Answer: -1.62×𝟏𝟎 ]
b) If all the gravitational potential energy lost is converted to kinetic energy, calculate
__the speed at which the probe hits the surface. [Answer: 56.89 𝒎𝒔-1 ]

Example 9

A space station of mass 400, 000 kg, orbits the earth at a height 36000 km above the Earth’s
surface. What are the gravitational potential energy of the space station? (Given Mass of the
Earth, mE = 5.98×1024 ; Radius of the earth, rE = 6.38×106𝑚) [Answer: -3.766×𝟏𝟎𝟏 ]

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 Mass of the Earth, mE =
SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION 5.98×1024 𝑘𝑔

Radius of the earth, rE =

7.3 Satellite Motion in a Circular Orbit
6.38×106𝑚)
2GM
LO 7.3 (a) Derive and use escape velocity, vesc = = 2 gR
R

Escape velocity which preferably known as escape speed is the minimum initial speed that
required so that the object can move upward forever.

The speed is derived using following equation. When object reaches infinity, it stops
Kf = 0 J
Ki + Ui = K f + U f As r = ∞, Uf = 0 J
1 2 GMm
mvesc − 2 = 0 + 0
2 r
From equation above,

1 2 GMm
mvesc = 2 where:
2 r
M is the mass of the planet !
2GM r is the radius of the planet !
vesc =
R

𝐺𝑀
*If on Earth, 𝑔 = 𝐺𝑀 = 𝑔𝑅 2
𝑅2
2 gR 2
vesc =
R
vesc = 2 gR

Example 10
Calculate the escape velocity of a planet of mass 5.69×1026 𝑘𝑔 and radius 5.75×107 .
[Answer: 3.63 ×𝟏𝟎𝟒 m s-1]

Example 11
Calculate the escape velocity from the surface of the Earth [Answer: 11.2 ×𝟏𝟎𝟑 m s-1]

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Altitude, h

Example 12 RE

A projectile is fired straight upward from the Earth’s surface at the South Pole with
an initial speed equal to one third the escape speed.
a) Ignoring air resistance, determine how far from the center of the Earth the projectile
__travels before stopping momentarily. [Answer: 7.18×𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝒎]
b) What is the altitude of the projectile at this instant? [Answer: 8.00×𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝒎]

Example 13

Given that the gravitational field strength on the surface of the Earth is 9.81 𝑁 𝑘𝑔-1 and the
radius of the Earth is 6.38×106 𝑚. Find
a) the minimum energy needed to send a rocket of mass 4500 kg from the surface of the
__Earth to infinity. [Answer: 2.81 ×𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟏 J]
b) the escape velocity of the rocket. [Answer: 11.18 x 103 m s-1]

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 SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

GM
v=
LO 7.3 (b) Derive equation for satellite motion: Velocity, r & Period,
r3
T = 2
GM

Velocity of a satellite in circular orbit Consider a satellite of mass, m travelling

around the planet of mass, M in a
circular orbit of radius r with constant
speed v as shown in the figure.
v
The net force on the satellite:

𝑚𝑣 2
m 𝐹𝑐 =
M 𝑟
The centripetal force Fc is contributed by
r RE Fg the gravitational force, Fc.

𝑚𝑣 2
𝐹𝑐 = 𝐹𝑔 =
𝑟
h
The gravitational force Fg is given by

𝑀𝑚
𝐹𝑔 = 𝐺
𝑟2
Therefore,
𝐺𝑀
𝑣=√ 𝑀𝑚 𝑚𝑣 2
𝑟 𝐺 2 =
𝑟 𝑟

v : Velocity of satellite Hence,

G : Gravitational constant 𝐺𝑀
𝑣=√
M : mass of the planet ! 𝑟

r : radius of circular orbit (distance from the centre of the planet)

Note:
𝑟 = 𝑅𝐸 + ℎ

RE : Radius of the Earth (Planet)

h : height (Altitude)
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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Period of the satellite orbits around the earth

From circular motion (chapter 6)

2𝜋
𝑣 = 𝑟𝜔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 =
𝑇
2𝜋𝑟
𝑣=
𝑇
From (LO 7.3 (a))

𝐺𝑀
𝑣=√
𝑟

Therefore,

2𝜋𝑟 𝐺𝑀
=√
𝑇 𝑟

Hence,

𝑟3
𝑇 = 2√
𝐺𝑀

T : Period of Satellite

r : radius of circular orbit (distance from the centre of the planet)

G : Gravitational constant

M : Mass of the planet !

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 14

A satellite travels at height of 150 km above the surface of the earth. Determine

a) Velocity of the satellite. [7815 ms-1]

b) The period of revolution of the satellite. [5249 s]

Given,

• Mass of the Earth, 𝑚𝐸 = 5.98 × 1024 𝑘𝑔

• Radius of the earth, 𝑅𝐸 = 6.38 × 106 𝑚

Example 15

A satellite travels in a circular orbit at a height of one Earth radius above the surface of the Earth.
What is the satellite orbital period? [14339.78 s]

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SP015 CHAPTER 7 : GRAVITATION

Example 16

The radius of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth is r and the period of the orbit is 27.3 days. The
masses of the Earth and Moon are 6.0  1024 kg and 7.4  1022 kg respectively. Calculate the
radius of the Moon orbit. [3.83 x 108 m]

Example 17

A 1000kg satellite is in an orbit 350km above the earth surface. Calculate the:

a) Speed of the satellite. [7698.5 ms-1]

b) Period of the satellite. [5492.74 s]

c) Radial acceleration of the satellite. [8.81 ms-2]

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