Gravitational Force Sir Isaac Newton said that every mass in universe attracts every other mass with

a gravitational force. The magnitude of the force is big if one of the object is massive and the distance between them is small. Both objects pulls on each other with the same gravitational force even one of the objects is tiny and the other massive, like and apple and the earth. ccording to Newton , all objects are pulled by this force which causes them to fall to the surface of earth. This force which originates from the centre of the !arth pulls all objects towards the ground. Gravitational Field "ravitational field is a region in which an on objects e#periences a force due to gravity. The earth$s gravitational field e#tends out into space , in all directions. This field gets weaker the further you go out from the centre of the !arth. Gravitational field strength , g The gravitational field strength , g is defined as force per unit m. g % & m The unit of the gravitational field strength , g is N kg'( The gravitational field strength , g of the !arth is ).* N kg'( . The gravitational field strength , g of the +oon is only (., N kg'( because the mass of the +oon is about one' eightieth that of the !arth$s. Acceleration due to gravity, g &rom the definition of the gravitational field strength, g % & -------.(/ m ccording to Newton$s second law of motion, & % ma -------..0/ Substituting for & , a % g % ).* ms'0 So, the acceleration due to gravity , g , is e1ual to ).* ms'0 for !arth. ll objects on the !arth fall with the same acceleration due to gravity regardless of their si2e or mass. Free fall n object falls with an acceleration due to gravity, g is said to be free falling. This happen when the object falls without encountering any resistance. The following graph shows he graph velocity against time of any free'falling object 3

The gradient of the graph is ).* ms'0 &rom the e1uation s % ut 4 5 at0 , Thus we know that u % o , a % g &rom s % 5 gt0 so the t will be

These means that the time for free fall will depend upon .i/ height from where the object is let go off .ii/ the value of the acceleration due gravity The free fall time does not depend on .i/ the mass of the object .ii/ the shape of the path .straight line or parabola/ !#ample ( man release a stone into a well. If the distance between the top of the well and the water surface is 67 m , what is the time taken for the stone to reach the surface of the water. Solution

!#ample 0

trolley moving with a uniform velocity of 8 ms'( on a table . The height of the table is (.08 m. 9alculate .a/ time taken to reach the floor .b/ Solution the value of #

Weight, (W) The weight , : of an object is the gravitational force e#erted on it . &rom & % ma , a%g ;ence W = mg The S.I. units of weight is Newton .N/ !#ample 6 n astronaut who landed on the moon brought back a stone. <n the +oon$s surface, the stone had a weight of *.7 N . <n weighing the stone on !arth , a weight of 87 N is recorded. . acceleration due to gravity for !arth is ).*( ms'0/ 9alculate , .a/ the mass of the stone on !arth .b/ acceleration due to gravity for +oon Solution:

The difference between mass and weight +ass Is the 1uantity of matter in an object The S.I units is =ilogram base 1uantity scalar 1uantity +easured with an inertial balance or a chemical balance Is fi#ed at all places :eight Is the gravitational force The S.I. units is Newton derived 1uantity vector 1uantity +easured with a spring balance >aries from place to place

ll objects are pulled towards the center of the earth by a force known as the earth$s gravitational force (force of gravity). ny object dropped towards earth which falls under the influence of the earth$s gravitational force .without any influence of other e#ternal forces, such as air friction/ is said to be going through a free fall. In reality, free fall only occur in vacuum space. n object undergoing free fall will fall at the rate of gravitational acceleration which is at a constant of 9.8 ms!" at sea level. #he gravitational acceleration is not influenced $y the si%e or mass of the object. Weight is the force of gravity which is e#erted on the !arth. Since weight, W is the gravitational force acting on the o$&ect of mass,m that ma'es it falls (ith an acceleration, g . Therefore, by using the corresponding terms of Newton$s Second ?aw, & % ma or W= mg )*++A,(. gravitational force is force that pulls objects towards each other.

0.:hen an object falls under the influence of gravitational force only, the object is in a state of free fall. 6. The acceleration of an object e#periencing a free fall is known as gravitational acceleration, g and the unit is ms'0. @. "ravitational field strength, g is defined as the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on a unit mass of an object in the field. g % &Am .Nkg'(/ 8. The gravitational acceleration has a constant value of ).* ms'0 near the surface of the earth and does not depend on the mass of the object. ,. The gravitational field strength also has a value of ).* Nkg'( near the surface of the earth. B. The weight of an object is defined as the gravitational force acting on the object that is, the product of mass and acceleration due to gravity.