Activity 3.

2
Mass, m / kg
Pair r/m F/N
M1 M2
2.0 4.5 x 10-8
Teh + Lee 60 45
4.0 1.13 x 10-8
2.0 4.31 x 10-8
Yap + Izzati 55 47
4.0 1.08 x 10-8

𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
Gravitational force, F: , G=6.67 x 10-11
𝑟2

a) Calculate the gravitational force, F using both your masses and the distances
given in the table.

b) How do the masses of two bodies influence the gravitational force between
them?
Bigger the masses of two bodies, greater the gravitational force between
them.

c) What is the effect of distance between two bodies on gravitational force

between them?
Larger the distance between two bodies, smaller gravitational force between
them.

d) Why is the magnitude of gravitational force between you and your partner
small?
Because the masses between partner is very small.
Activity 3.3
1) What is the gravitational force on the man-made satellite before it is
launched?
𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
𝐹= 𝑟2

(6.67 × 10−11 )(1.20 × 103 )(5.97 × 1024 )

𝐹=
(6.37 × 106 )2
𝐹 = 11776.13 N

2) Compare:
a) the mass of the Earth, the mass of the man-made satellite and the mass of
the Sun
mass earth: 5.97 x 1024, mass satellite: 1.20 x 103, mass sun: 1.99 x 1030
mass sun > mass earth > mass satellite

b) between the Earth-satellite distance and the Sun-Earth distance.

Distance earth-satellite: 4.22 x 107, Distance sun-earth: 1.50 x 1011
Distance sun-earth > Distance earth-satellite

3) Predict the difference in the magnitude of the gravitational force between the
Earth and the man-made satellite and the gravitational force between the Sun
and the Earth.

magnitude of the gravitational force between the Earth and the man-made
satellite lower than magnitude of the gravitational force between the Sun and
the Earth

4) Calculate:
a) the gravitational force between the Earth and the man-made satellite
𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
𝐹 = 𝑟2

(6.67 × 10−11 )(1.20 × 103 )(5.97 × 1024 )

𝐹=
(6.37 × 106 + 4.22 × 107 )2
𝐹 = 202.56 N
b) the gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun.
𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
𝐹 = 𝑟2

(6.67 × 10−11 )(1.99 × 1030 )(5.97 × 1024 )

𝐹=
(1.50 × 1011 )2
𝐹 = 3.52 x 1022 N
5) The gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon is 2.00 × 1020 N.
What is the distance between the centre of the Earth and the centre of the
Moon?
𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
𝐹 = 𝑟2

(6.67 × 10−11 )(7.35 × 1022 )(5.97 × 1024 )

2.00 × 1020 =
(𝑟)2
𝑟 = 3.83 x 108 m