Gravitation

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
F a m1m2
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
 1
F a 2
r

© David Hoult 2009

 m1m2
F =G
r2

where G is the universal gravitation constant

© David Hoult 2009

 m1m2
F =G
r2

where G is the universal gravitation constant

N m2 kg-2

© David Hoult 2009

Testing the Inverse Square Law
of Gravitation

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
9.8
= 2.72 × 10 -3 ms-2
602

© David Hoult 2009

9.8
= 2.72 × 10 -3 ms-2
602
v2
a=
r

© David Hoult 2009

9.8
= 2.72 × 10 -3 ms-2
602
v2
a=
r

r = 3.84 × 108 m

T = 27.3 days
© David Hoult 2009
Centripetal acceleration of the moon (caused by
the force of gravity)

2.72 × 10-3 ms-2

© David Hoult 2009

 Conclusion
The inverse square law is a good theory

© David Hoult 2009

Relation between g and G

© David Hoult 2009

Relation between g and G

F
g
m

© David Hoult 2009

Relation between g and G

F
g
m

Mm
FG 2
R

© David Hoult 2009

Relation between g and G

F
g
m

Mm
FG 2
R

M
gG 2
R

© David Hoult 2009

we have assumed the equivalence of
inertial and gravitational mass

© David Hoult 2009

Gravitational Field Strength

© David Hoult 2009

The g.f.s. at a point in a gravitational field is the
force per unit mass acting on point mass

© David Hoult 2009

The g.f.s. at a point in a gravitational field is the
force per unit mass acting on point mass

Units Nkg-1

© David Hoult 2009

“Force per unit mass” is equivalent
to acceleration

© David Hoult 2009

G.f.s. is another name for acceleration due to
gravity

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
 M
gG 2
r

© David Hoult 2009

ga 1
r2

© David Hoult 2009

ga 1
r2

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
outside the sphere ga 1
r2
outside the sphere ga 1
r2

© David Hoult 2009

 outside the sphere ga 1
r2

inside the sphere g a r

© David Hoult 2009
 outside the sphere ga 1
r2

inside the sphere g a r

© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
World High Jump Record...

© David Hoult 2009

World High Jump Record...

on Mars ?

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
maximum height, s depends on:

© David Hoult 2009

maximum height, s depends on:

initial velocity, u

© David Hoult 2009

maximum height, s depends on:

initial velocity, u

acceleration due to gravity, g

© David Hoult 2009

 u2 = -2gs

so, for a given initial velocity

© David Hoult 2009

 u2 = -2gs

so, for a given initial velocity

gs = a constant

© David Hoult 2009

 For a given initial velocity, the maximum height
reached by the body is inversely proportional to the
acceleration due to gravity

© David Hoult 2009

s a 1
g

© David Hoult 2009

 s a 1
g

sg = a constant

© David Hoult 2009

 s a 1
g

gs = a constant

g1s1 = g2s2

or
s1 g2
=
s2 g1

© David Hoult 2009

Gravitational Potential

© David Hoult 2009

The potential at a point in a gravitational field is
the work done per unit mass moving point mass
from infinity to that point

© David Hoult 2009

The potential at a point in a gravitational field is
the work done per unit mass moving point mass
from infinity to that point

units of potential J kg-1

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
w = Fs but in this situation the force is not of
constant magnitude

© David Hoult 2009

w = Fs but in this situation the force is not of
constant magnitude

© David Hoult 2009

It is clear that the work done will depend on:

© David Hoult 2009

It is clear that the work done will depend on:

 the mass of the planet, M

© David Hoult 2009

It is clear that the work done will depend on:

 the mass of the planet, M

 the distance, r of point p from the planet

© David Hoult 2009

It is clear that the work done will depend on:

 the mass of the planet, M

guess: w a M

 the distance, r of point p from the planet

© David Hoult 2009

It is clear that the work done will depend on:

 the mass of the planet, M

guess: w a M

 the distance, r of point p from the planet

guess: w a 1/r

© David Hoult 2009

...it can be shown that...

© David Hoult 2009

w = GM
r

© David Hoult 2009

A body at infinity, has zero gravitational potential
“at infinity” means that the body is out of the
gravitational field

© David Hoult 2009

A body at infinity, has zero gravitational potential
“at infinity” means that the body is out of the
gravitational field

All bodies fall to their lowest state of potential

(energy)

© David Hoult 2009

A body at infinity, has zero gravitational potential
“at infinity” means that the body is out of the
gravitational field

All bodies fall to their lowest state of potential

(energy)

All gravitational potentials are therefore negative

quantities

© David Hoult 2009

V = GM
r

© David Hoult 2009

 V = GM
r

Therefore the gravitational potential energy possessed by a

body of mass m placed at point p is given by

© David Hoult 2009

 V = GM
r

The gravitational potential energy possessed by a body of

mass m placed at point p is given by

GPE = Vm

© David Hoult 2009

Escape Velocity

© David Hoult 2009

© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
© David Hoult 2009
G P E = zero

© David Hoult 2009

 G P E = zero

To find the minimum velocity, ve which will cause the rocket

to escape the Earth’s gravity, assume K E of distant rocket
is also equal to zero.

© David Hoult 2009

 G P E = zero

To find the minimum velocity, ve which will cause the rocket

to escape the Earth’s gravity, assume K E of distant rocket
is also equal to zero.

As the body is moving away from the planet it is losing

K E and gaining G P E

© David Hoult 2009

 G P E = zero

To find the minimum velocity, ve which will cause the rocket

to escape the Earth’s gravity, assume K E of distant rocket
is also equal to zero.

As the body is moving away from the planet it is losing

K E and gaining G P E

DKE = DGPE
© David Hoult 2009
If the mass of the rocket is m, then the G P E it possesses
at the surface of the planet is

GPE = GMm
R

© David Hoult 2009

If the mass of the rocket is m, then the G P E it possesses
at the surface of the planet is

GPE = GMm
R

DGPE = GMm
r

© David Hoult 2009

If the mass of the rocket is m, then the G P E it possesses
at the surface of the planet is

GPE = GMm
R

DGPE = GMm
R

D K E = ½mve2

© David Hoult 2009

 2 GMm
½mve =
R

© David Hoult 2009

 2GM
ve 
R

Also, as g = GM/R2

© David Hoult 2009

 2GM
ve 
R

Also, as g = GM/R2

ve  2gR

© David Hoult 2009