Learning outcomes :

A students is able to:

Explain acceleration due to gravity
State what a gravitational field is
Define gravitational strength
Determine the value of acceleration due to
gravity
Define weight as the product of mass and
acceleration due to gravity
Solve problems involving acceleration due to
gravity
Gravity

A Universal Force

a) Until 17
th
century, - a heavy object would fall faster
than a light object as Aristotle once taught.
b) After research by Galileo Galilei - if air resistance
can be ignored, all bodies fall with an equal
acceleration.
The difference between a fall in air and a free fall in
a vacuum of a coin and a feather
5
Force of attraction between bodies that have
mass
Free falling
An object falling under the force of
gravity only
6
Acceleration due to gravity
t
1
< t
2
< t
3

FREE FALLING OBJECT
Is an object falling under
the force of gravity only
Does not encounter other
force (example : air
resistance or friction that
would oppose its motion
8
Gravitational field
A gravitational field is a region in which an object
experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.
g = F
m

Unit: N/kg
Gravitational field strength
The gravitational force acting on a 1kg mass
9
Gravitational acceleration
The acceleration of an object due to the pull
of the gravitational force.
The unit of gravitational acceleration is
m s
-2

Symbol: g
Gravitational field strength vs.
gravitational acceleration
Both the gravitational strength and
gravitational acceleration have the symbol g
and the same value on the surface of the
earth.
When considering a body falling freely, the g
is the gravitational acceleration.
When considering object at rest, g is the
earths gravitational field strength acting on it.

11
Weight (W)
The gravitational force acting on
the object
weight = mg
SI unit = newton (N)
vector quantity
question : what is the weight of
your friend your right?

Mass , m

Differences

Weight , w
The amount of matter
in the object.

definition
The force of gravity
on the object.

The mass of an object
is constant
everywhere.


Changing of value
Varies with the
magnitude of
gravitational field
strength, g of the
location.

Scalar quantity

Physical quantity

Vector quantity

Base quantity

Type of quantity

Derived quantity

Kilogram, kg

SI unit

Newton, N
QUIZ
QUESTION 1
An aeroplane is moving above
the earth at a particular point.
The mass of the aeroplane is
25000 kg and experiences a
gravitational force of 235000 N.
Find the gravitational field
strength at that point.

QUESTION 2
An apple fall vertically from the
tree over a distance of 8 m to the
ground. Calculate :
a) the time the apple takes to
reach the ground
b) the speed of the apple as it
strikes the ground.
(using g= 9.8 m s)


QUESTION 3
A stone is released from rest and
falls into a well. After 1.2 s, it hits
the bottom of the well.
(a) What is the velocity of the stone
when it hits the bottom?
(b) Calculate the depth of the well?

QUESTION 4
An object has a mass of 8 kg. find
its weight on
(a) The earth
(b) The moon
(The acceleration due to gravity on the Earth is
9.8 m s. the acceleration due to gravity on
the moon is 1.6 m s)