Newton's

Law of
Universal
Gravitation

Objectives

EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF GRAVITY

DISCUSS NEWTON'S LAW OF UNIVERSAL

GRAVITATION

DISCUSS SOME APPLICATION OF NEWTON'S

LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION

DETERMINE THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE OF

ATTRACTION BETWEEN TWO OBJECTS.

 The concept
of Gravity
Gravity is probably the most

familiar force in our everyday

lives. If you are asked why

objects fall, a very quick

answer would be given:

The object falls because of

gravity. But what is gravity?

 The concept
of Gravity
Newton's calculated the

acceleration of the moon to

be 0.00272 m/s ² and that of

the apple (or any object near

the eath's surface) to be 9.8

²
m/s . It turned out that the

ratio is 1/3600.
 The Law of Universal
Gravitation

Newton proposed that there is an

inward force exerted by the sun which

keeps the planets in their orbits.

"Every object in the universe attracts every

other object with a force that is directly

proportional to the product of the masses

of the two objects and inversely

proportional to the square of the distance

between the centers of the two objects,

and in a line connecting their centers."

2
HENRY CAVENDISH
(born October 10, 1731, Nice, France—

died February 24, 1810, London,

England), natural philosopher, the

greatest experimental and theoretical

English chemist and physicist of his

age.
Fg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
mg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
mgR ₑ² = Gmmₑ
Gm Gm
mgR ₑ² = Gmmₑ
Gm Gm
mgR ₑ² =mₑ
Gm
mgR ₑ² =mₑ
Gm
gR ₑ² =mₑ
G
 gR ₑ² =mₑ
G

Since:

g = 9.8 m/s ²
Rₑ = 6.38x10⁶ m

G = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²
 ² ⁶ m)² =mₑ
(9.8 m/s )(6.38x10

6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

 ² ⁶ m)² =mₑ
(9.8 m/s )(6.38x10

6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

m ₑ = 5.98x10²⁴ kg
Examples
WORD PROBLEMS
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given:
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg; m₂ = 70 kg
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg; m₂ = 70 kg; R = 2.0 m

Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg; m₂ = 70 kg; R = 2.0 m

Solution:

₁ ₂
Fg = G m m

R²
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg; m₂ = 70 kg; R = 2.0 m

Solution:

₁ ₂
Fg = G m m

R²

Fg = (6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²)(60kg)(70kg)

(2.0 m)²
Determine the gravitational force between a 60 kg and a 70 kg

person who are both standing 2.0 m apart.

Given: m ₁ = 60 kg; m₂ = 70 kg; R = 2.0 m

Solution:

₁ ₂
Fg = G m m

R²

⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²)(60kg)(70kg)
Fg = (6.67x10

(2.0 m)²

Fg = 7.00x10⁻⁸ N
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given:
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

Formula:

₁ ₂
Fg = G m m

R²
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

Formula:

R ² ₁ ₂
= G m m

Fg
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

√² √
Formula:

R = ₁ ₂
G m m

Fg
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

√² √
Formula:

R = ₁ ₂
G m m

Fg
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

√
Formula:

R = G m m ₁ ₂
Fg
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

√
Formula:

R = G m m ₁ ₂
Fg

√
Solution:

R = (6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²)(52 kg)(57 kg)

7.45x10⁻⁸ N
A saleslady, whose mass is 52 kg, is doing product

demonstration in front of customers. She exerts a gravitational

force of 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N on a 57 kg woman who is standing in the

front row. How far is the woman from the salesday?

Given: Fg = 7.45x10 ⁻⁸ N; m₁ = 52 kg; m₂ = 57 kg

√
Formula:

R = G m m ₁ ₂
Fg

√
Solution:

R = (6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²)(52 kg)(57 kg)

7.45x10⁻⁸ N

R = 1.63 m
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given:
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

Fg = G m m₁ ₂
R²
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

Fg = G m ²
R²
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

FgR ² = Gm²
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

FgR ² = Gm²
G G
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

FgR ² = Gm²
G G
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

Formula:

FgR ² = m²
G
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

√
Formula:

FgR ²=m
G
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

√
Formula:

FgR ²=m
G

√
Solution:

m = (2.30x10‐⁸ N)(10.0 m)²

6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²
If the gravitational force between objects of equal mass is

2.30x10 ‐⁸ N when the objects are 10.0 m apart, what is the mass
of each object?

Given: Fg = 2.30x10 ‐⁸ N; R = 10.0 m

√
Formula:

FgR ²=m
G

√
Solution:

m = (2.30x10‐⁸ N)(10.0 m)²

6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

m = 185.70 kg
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

Given:
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

Given: m = 70.0 kg
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

ₑ ₑ
Given: m = 70.0 kg; m ; r ; G
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

ₑ ₑ
Given: m = 70.0 kg; m ; r ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

ₑ ₑ
Given: m = 70.0 kg; m ; r ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
Solution:

Fg = 6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² [(70 kg)(5.98x10²⁴ kg)]

(6.38x10⁶ m)²
What is the gravitational force acting on a 70.0 kg object

standing on the Earth’s surface?

ₑ ₑ
Given: m = 70.0 kg; m ; r ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
Solution:

Fg = 6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² [(70 kg)(5.98x10²⁴ kg)]

(6.38x10⁶ m)²

Fg = 685.94 N
What is the gravitational force on a 70.0 kg that is 6.38x10 ⁶m
above the Earth’s surface?
What is the gravitational force on a 70.0 kg that is 6.38x10 ⁶m
above the Earth’s surface?

Given: m = 70.0 kg; R = 6.38x10 ⁶ m; mₑ; rₑ; G

What is the gravitational force on a 70.0 kg that is 6.38x10 ⁶m
above the Earth’s surface?

Given: m = 70.0 kg; R = 6.38x10 ⁶ m; mₑ; rₑ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
(R +Rₑ)²
What is the gravitational force on a 70.0 kg that is 6.38x10 ⁶m
above the Earth’s surface?

Given: m = 70.0 kg; R = 6.38x10 ⁶ m; mₑ; rₑ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
(R +Rₑ)²

Solution:

Fg = 6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² [(70 kg)(5.98x10²⁴ kg)]

(6.38x10⁶ + 6.38x10⁶ m)²
What is the gravitational force on a 70.0 kg that is 6.38x10 ⁶m
above the Earth’s surface?

Given: m = 70.0 kg; R = 6.38x10 ⁶ m; mₑ; rₑ; G

Formula:

Fg = G mm ₑ
R ₑ²
Solution:

Fg = 6.67x10 ⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² [(70 kg)(5.98x10²⁴ kg)]

(6.38x10⁶ + 6.38x10⁶ m)²

Fg = 171.48 N
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given:
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m ₂ ₃
Fg = G m m

R² R²
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m ₂ ₃
Fg = G m m

R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg)

(0.50 m)²
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m Fg = G m m₂ ₃
R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) Fg ₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m Fg = G m m₂ ₃
R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) Fg ₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²

Fg₂₁ = 2.67x10⁻⁸ N to the left

 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m ₂ ₃
Fg = G m m

R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) ₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
Fg

(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²

Fg₂₁ = 2.67x10⁻⁸ N to the left Fg₂₃ = 4.00x10⁻⁸ N to the right

 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m ₂ ₃
Fg = G m m

R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) ₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
Fg

(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²

Fg₂₁ = 2.67x10⁻⁸ N to the left Fg₂₃ = 4.00x10⁻⁸ N to the right

ₜ
Fg = - Fg ₂₁ + Fg₂₃
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m ₂ ₃
Fg = G m m

R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) Fg₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²

Fg₂₁ = 2.67x10⁻⁸ N to the left Fg₂₃ = 4.00x10⁻⁸ N to the right

ₜ
Fg = - Fg ₂₁ + Fg₂₃ = - 2.67x10⁻⁸ N + 4.00x10⁻⁸ N
 Three objects A, B, C are placed 50.0 cm apart along a straight line. A and B

have a mass of 10.0 kg, while C has a mass of 15.0 kg. What is the net force on B

due to A and C?

Given: m ₁ = m₂ = 10 kg; m₃ = 15.0 kg; R = 50 cm = 0.50 m

Formula: Fg = G mm

R ²
₂ ₁
Fg = G m m Fg = G m m₂ ₃
R² R²

Fg₂₁ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(10 kg) Fg₂₃ = 6.67x10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg² (10 kg)(15 kg)
(0.50 m)² (0.50 m)²

Fg₂₁ = 2.67x10⁻⁸ N to the left Fg₂₃ = 4.00x10⁻⁸ N to the right

ₜ
Fg = - Fg ₂₁ + Fg₂₃ = - 2.67x10⁻⁸ N + 4.00x10⁻⁸ N = 1.33x10⁻⁸ N
DID YOU KNOW?
Between 1665 and 1666, Newton spent

time on his family's farm when the

black plague spread through Europe.

There, in such a short period of time

(only 18 months), he invented calculus,

did a preliminary study on gravity, and

found out that light can be separated

by a prism.
 To do:
MIDTERM QUIZ 2 CODE:

MidtermQuiz2

MIDTERM LEARNING ACTIVITY 2