SPH4U 6.1-6.

2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

History of Measuring Gravity

Gravitational Constant:_______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

G=

Universal Law of Gravitation

There is a gravitational attraction between any two objects. If the objects have masses m1 and m2 and their centres are
separated by a distance r, the magnitude of the gravitational force on either object is directly proportional to the
product of m1 and m2 and inversely proportional to the square of r:

Fg = ______________________________________

G = _______________________________________

m1 and m2 = ________________________________

r = ________________________________________

Inverse Proportionality

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Example

Jupiter has a mass of 1.9 x 1027 kg and a mean radius at the equator of 7.0 x 107 m. Calculate the magnitude of g on
Jupiter, if it were a perfect sphere with that radius.

Uniform spheres A, B, and C have the following masses and centre-to-centre distances:

mA = 40.0 kg, mB = 60.0 kg, and mC = 80.0 kg; rAB = 0.50 m and rBC = 0.75 m. If the only forces acting on B are the
gravitational forces due to A and C, determine the net force acting on B with the spheres arranged as in the figures
below

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Your Turn

Two spherical asteroids have masses as follows: m1 = 1.0 x 1020 kg and m2 = 3.0 x 1020 kg. The magnitude of the force of
attraction between the two asteroids is 2.2 x 109 N. Calculate the distance between the two asteroids.

Gravitational Fields

The _____________________________ around an object with mass is represented as vectors pointing towards the
centre of the object.

The ________________________________________________ exponentially as their distance gets further away from

the centre.

The ____________________________________________________ is 9.8N/m2, however would decrease as one moves

further from the Earth’s surface.

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Central Point

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Example

Suppose that Saturn expanded until its radius doubled, while its mass stayed the same. Determine the gravitational field
strength on the new surface relative to the old surface.

Your Turn

The radius of a typical white dwarf star is just a little larger than the radius of Earth, but a typical white dwarf has a mass
that is similar to the Sun’s mass. Calculate the surface gravitational field strength of a white dwarf with a radius of 7.0 x
106 m and a mass of 1.2 x 1030 kg. Compare this to the surface gravitational field strength of Earth.

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Satellites

Satellite:___________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Artificial Satellite:___________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Satellites

Natural Satellites

Artificial Satellites

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Satellites in Circular Orbits

 The gravitational field strength of Earth with mass mE at the location of a satellite
at height r above Earth’s centre is

 Recall from Chapter 3 that the formula for centripetal acceleration based on the
orbiting object’s speed v is

 For a satellite in a circular orbit, the gravitational force provides the centripetal
force. Combining the above two equations gives

 Solving for the speed of the satellite and using only the positive square root gives

Orbits

Geosynchronous Orbit:_______________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Geostationary Orbit:_________________________________________________________________________________

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Example

Mars orbits the Sun in a nearly circular orbit of radius 2.28 x 1011 m. The mass of Mars is 6.42 x 1023 kg. Mars experiences
a gravitational force from the Sun of magnitude 1.63 x 1021 N. Calculate the speed of Mars and the period of revolution
for Mars in terms of Earth years.

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 SPH4U 6.1-6.2 Newtonian Gravitation and Orbits

Example

Satellites can orbit the Moon very close to the Moon’s surface because the Moon has no atmosphere to slow the
satellite through air resistance. Determine the speed of a satellite that orbits the Moon just 25 m above the surface.

Your Turn

Astronomers have determined that a black hole sits at the centre of galaxy M87 (Figure 5). Observations show matter at
a distance of 5.34 x 1017 m from the black hole and travelling at speeds of 7.5 x 105 m/s. Calculate the mass of the black
hole, assuming the matter being observed moves in a circular orbit around it.

Satellites can orbit the Moon very close to the Moon’s surface because the Moon has no atmosphere to slow the
satellite through air resistance. Determine the speed of a satellite that orbits the Moon just 25 m above the surface.
(Hint: Refer to Appendix B for radius and mass data for the Moon.)

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