GRAVITATIONAL

FIELD
 1.The Law of Universal Gravtation
( Newton’s Law of Gravitation )

The gravitational force ( F ) between two objects is

attractive force which its magnitude is directly
proportional to the mass ( m ) of each object and
inversely proportional to the square of distance ( r )
between their centres.

F r F
m1 m2
 equation
m1m2
F G 2
r
.m : mass of the object ( in kg )
.r : disctance between two objects ( in m )
G : The universal gravitation constant
( 6,67x10-11 Nm2/kg2 )
F : Gravitasional Force ( in N )
 Exercise

1. The earth may be considered to be sphere 0f mass 6.0x1024 kg and

radius 6.38106 m. Calculate the gravitational force acting on a
a. 1.0 kg mass on the Earth surface
b. 1.0 kg mass placed at a distance 0f
3.8x108 m from the centre of Earth
 2. Gravitational Field of a Point Mass

• A gravitational field is said to exist at a point if a gravitational force F

exerted on a test mass m placed at that point in space.
• The gravitational field strength g at a point is defined as:
g = force/mass = F/m
• Gravitational field strength is also known as gravitational
acceleration or free-fall acceleration. Its SI unit is N/kg. If can also
be expressed in SI base unit of m/s2.
• The formula for the gravitational field strength :
F F
g 
m
Mm r g m
G 2
g  r
m
M
M
g  G 2
r
 The Weight

• The weight of an object (w) is the gravitational force

acting downward on the object. On the Earth, it is the
gravitational force exerted on the object by the planet. Its
units are newtons ( in the SI)

.m
Mm
wG 2 .w
r .r
w  mg
Earth M
 The period of the Earth
• The force Fc which
provides the
centripetal
acceleration R
 The period of the Earth
• The force Fc which provides the centripetal
acceleration Rω2 that keeps the Earth in • Equation
circular motion round the Sun.
Fc = mRωω2 Fg  Fc
m m
G E 2 S  m E R 2

• The centripetal force is due to the R

2
gravitational force of attraction exerted on  
the Earth y the Sun. It is given by Newton’s T
 2 
2
Law of Universal Gravitation m m
G E 2 S  mE R 
Fg = Gm1m2/R2 R  T 
 4 2  3
T2   R
 GmS 
Earth T 2  R3
or
R3
 cons tan t
T2

Fc R13
T12

R23
T22

Sun