Finding the Universal Gravitational Constant Name:

The simulations used for this activity can be accessed in the any of the following ways.
Download and run the Java files from Moodle
Follow the links to the PHET website that is posted in Moodle
Use these links http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab/latest/gravity-force-lab_en.html
http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/gravity-and-orbits/gravity-and-orbits_en.jnlp
Introduction
The gravitational attraction between any two objects can be found using Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation:

.if solved for G

This is a very simple, yet accurate, formula that demands a few minimal approximations.
Both masses are treated as point masses (not too far off when compared to the distances involved)
r is the distance between the centers of the object (doesnt matter with point masses)
G is not the same as g. It is not approximately 9.81 m/s
2
. Big G is called the universal gravitational
constant, while small g is the acceleration that gravity induces on a freely falling object at the surface of
a planet.
The purpose of this activity is to use a gravity and orbit simulation to calculate the value of G.
Part 1: Finding G with the Gravity Force Lab
Change the mass and distance values for a broad mixture of situations, completing the first 4 columns of the
chart below. Then use the formula to calculate the value of G for each trial. (Note: you can move the ruler to measure
the distances.)
Mass Object 1 (kg) Mass Object 2 (kg) Distance (m) Force (N) Gravitational Constant, G
38 100 5 1.1019x10
-8
6.70394737x10
-11

11 6 3 4.8x10
-10
6.54545455x10
-11

16 10 7 2.2x10
-10
6.7375x10
-11

83 22 6 3.34x10
-9
6.58488499x10
-11



Calculate the average value of G from the table


Look up the accepted value for G and place it here (including units)



6.64294673x10
-11

6.67259 x 10
-11
N m2/kg2
Emily Krivak
Now, use the simulation to answer the following questions. (Drag the circle over you answer and resize it.)

1. Gravitational force is always.. attractive / repulsive.

2. IF a gravitational force exists between two objects, one very massive and one less massive, then the force
on the less massive object will be. greater than / equal to / less than the force
on the more massive object.

3. As the distance between masses decreases, force. Increases / decreases.

4. Doubling the mass of one object would result in the change in force of .

4x / 2x / no change / (
1
/
2
) x / (
1
/
4
) x

5. Doubling the distance between two objects will change the force of.

4x / 2x / no change / (
1
/
2
) x / (
1
/
4
) x
Part 2: Gravity and Orbits Simulation
This part of the activity uses a different simulation. Be certain you switch to the new simulation or the questions
will not make sense.

Run several orbit simulations, changing the settings as needed, to answer the following questions.

6. In what direction is the gravitational force of the orbiting object oriented?


7. In what direction is the velocity of the orbiting object oriented?


8. If you turn gravity off, what happens? Why does this happen?



9. If you increase the mass of the Sun, what happens to the Earth?


10. If you decrease the mass of the Sun, what happens to the Earth?

Counterclockwise
Counter clockwise, away from the sun and Earth
Earth goes towards the velocity, it stops revolving around the sun. This happens
because Earth revolves around the sun because of gradational force.
It gets pulled closer to the sun. But if the sun gets too big than the Earth hits it
and explodes.
Its path is father out than as before.

11. Click on the Earth/satellite button. Increase the speed of the satellite. What happens? Explain.
(You can move the satellite or change its velocity by dragging each with the mouse pause first)



12. Decrease the speed of the satellite. What happens? Explain.



13. Move the satellite. Describe what happens. Can you create a stable orbit further from the Earth? How
did you do it?



14. Change the mass of the satellite only. Will this change the orbit of the satellite? Why or Why not?
Explain what happens. (Use the slider at the bottom right.)



15. The mass of the moon is 7.35x10
22
kg and the mass of the earth is 5.97x10
24
kg. The moons orbit distance
is 3.84x10
8
m. What is the gravitational force on the moon by the earth? What is the gravitational force
of the earth on the moon? (Calculate it using the equation)



16. What is the centripetal acceleration of the moon around the earth, realizing that the gravitational force is
the centripetal force? (Assume the orbit is circular and calculate it F
c
=ma
c
)



17. What is the speed of the moon as it travels around the Earth? (Calculate it a
c
=v
t
2
/r)
It falls out of orbit. This happens because it goes too fast for how much
gravitational attraction it has with Earth.
It hits the Earth. It does this because with less speed, the gravitational force pulls
it in more.
It goes off the screen. Yes, you have to make the Earth bigger and the satellite
smaller.
It does not change the orbit of the satellite. What happens is that the satellite
follows the same path no matter what size. This happens because the big G is the
same (6.673x10
-11
Nm
2
/kg
2
) no matter the size of the object.
F=[Gm
1
m
2
]/d
2
F= [(6.673x10
-11
)(5.97x10
24
)(7.35x10
22
)]/(3.84x10
8
)
2
=1.99x10
20
N
F
c
=ma
c
1.99x10
20
=(7.35x10
22
)a
c
a
c
=.002707483m/s
2


a
c
=(V
t
2
)/r .002707483=(V
t
2
)/1.738x10
6
4705.605454=V
t
2
V
t
=68.5974158m/s