Gravitation

Newton's Law of Gravitation

According to Newton's law the gravitational force ofattraction between

two point masses is known to be directly proportional to the product

of two masses andinversely proportional to the square of the distance
between their centres
Also called universal law of Gravitation

objectB's object A's

r
pull on pas Efg pull on

objectA ActionReaction
objectB
massA massB

MA FG a MAMB MB
rt

For G MAMB
ra

where G Universal Gravitation constant

2
value of 6 6.67 x 15 nm2kg

Question I
we have a point mass m of 1kg placed on thesurface of earth
The mall of earth Me kg and the radiusof Earth
is 6 ox to Re
is G u x to'm calculate the gravitational forceof attraction

between them
Solution

Fa
EET
For 6.67 10
1 6.0 1024 I
2
G o x 102
G u x100
ME kg
q

M 1kg
b
t
Re Fa Gravitational pullofearth on I kgobject
I weight

me g oxpangd

Gravitational
pull of object on Earth reaction ofweight
For weight of mass m
Gravitational force ofattraction between the
earth and the object point man whichis placed on

the surface of the Earth

Relationship between Gand gravitational field

g
Fa weightof object strength
G Me m m
g GME Gravitationalfieldstrength
g
pg Re on the surface of

theplanetLeath
 GMe
yes
a
X gp u a

Gravitationalfieldstrength at point P

which is x distance
awayfrom the
centre of the Earth

Variation in thevalue of as we move from thesurfaceof theearth

g away
Considering earth to be isolated in the universe

RE radiusofEarth
9.81 N I
in kg
n go ng
g
ga e
d
i
905 79
i
go

ke Irs bre re distance in

nullpoint

A B C D

Earth Moon
 At A Earth's Gravitational Pullwill be stronger
At B Gravitational pull will be still towards earth becauseearthhas more

mass hence
g will be largeras well
Any test mass when placed at c will remain stationary because
attraction ofearth gravitational pull ofearth onTest mais pointmass

balances out attraction of moon gravitational pullof moon

Gravitational field Gravitational Field nullpoint

strength ofEarth strength ofmoon

At D moon's Gravitational pullwill be stronger

Question 2

By using thefollowinginformation findthe positionof the nullpoint

d Gor d

Gor
flint
Gor
Moon Eor Moon
Eor

ME 81 Mm ME massof Earth Mm man of moon

ge Sm
GMax81 G Mon
2
d2 Gore d

I d
GoRe d
 540Re ad d
tod Shore
d SURE

Nullpoint is sur awayfrom the centre ofthe Earth

00

Nullpoint is GR
away
from the centre of the moon

VariationofGravitational field strength

between Earth and moon convention
giving towards earth
Gor
towards moon
9 81

null
point
I distance m
O 7
SIR GOR
I64
 Gravitational fieldstrength becomes negative blog is a vector

quantity

Gravitational field
Region in space where a mass experiences an attractive force

Gravitational Field Strength

Theforce of attraction experienced placed
by a unit mass when

within the field

Gravitational FieldLines can

Note only attractandneverrepel
9
9
A e
2
Ite r
T
9
Iz p
Samemass as sphere

A but a smallerradius

Gravitational field of sphere B catsurface is

strength
greater than gravitational field strength of sphere A catsurface

more gravitational field lines per unit area indicates stronger

gravitational fieldstrength
Question
2
g at surface lom s
ME massofEarth 6 ox 102 ng

Re Radius of Earth 64 104

Se density of Earth
Earth

My mass of Jupiter
RJ radiusof Jupiter
Is densityof Jupiter

Jupiter

Given Rj GR e and fo life

of Jupiter
g at
Calculate surface GJ

Solution
let Ve Volume of Earth
Ve It Re se
g
ForEarth
gig we know
gg oms

ge GMe
Re
 G store
g e

Re
Gre
fire
For Jupiter
let Vy Volume of Jupiter
VJ RT
IT

ME
MJ STVJ L 43T Ry
My are x
Et Grey
MJ 864 it fe Re
g
9J G 86414135 e Re
IMF Gra 2

go 24 Life REJG
to
95 24g 24 10 240 mis
 Alternatively

Earth Jupiter
Me SEVE MJ L VJ
Me JE LUISIRE MJ p J UTRI

Ge GUTS RE GCB's Jr
GIG RE
go
gig R
g

ge
G BIRDIE go G BIRI SJ

t t
go anons
If I g I

Variation in the weight of an object when placed at different positions on

the Earth's surface
W
ng
g
If
Earth is not a perfect sphere so
g will not be constant
 Non uniform distribution of mass density within the core of Earth

Rotation of earthabout its anis

Recall In Circular Motion we studiedobjects placed on Earth will rotate

with earth

v r w var

Fc mr W Fo a V

If angularvelocity is constant objects with higher linearvelocity willrequiregreater

centripetal Force Fc

RE 6 ax room

MA
A Ekg
MB
1kg
A equator
For between objectAord ed k B pole

For 6.67 10 6 ox 102 s

GMgmy 6 u x 106 2

For 9 77N
 For between object Bad ear

For 6.67 10 6 ox 102 s

GMEMI 6u x 106
2

For 9.77N

Fc at A
Fc MRE W Fo m Rew
c G u x'o o
221 Efsa
m Fc ON

At A Gravitational force is responsible for providing Fc of o 039N

So it object A is placed on a balance the reading that we will

observe will be the Net Force
NetForce 9.77 0 034 9736N

At B the reading we willget is

objectA needs Fc since

NetForce 9.77 0 977N it ismovingincircledEarthrotates woundits am

Bdoesnot move in acirclehenceFc on

Summary Anyobject placedaround equatorwill weigh less Its weight will

increase as move towards poles At poles the weight will be manimun

you
 Note Value of g
doesnot comeout to be enactly981 Ning sincere andMe
are rounded off to 2SF

Eupressions for calculating knewvelocity v Angulovelocity w Timeperiod T and

Genetic energy Eu for asatellite performing Cerculomotion around
any
planet

Satellite
r
mass m

planet man m

lid
ME GMI
v2
Em
E

kineticenosygg
mo am Ed
Eu
GIT
 Angular velocity w

Fc For
Mr w 2
GYI
If
W W
GI
Timeperiod C T

W
2,1

tie

T 2T
E
Purpose of a satellite

Emes Receiver

Types ofsatellites
Polar Globalpositioning satellite
orbitingsatellite Equatorialorbiting

1 satellite

g
I
Equatorial orbitting satellites

Geostationary satellites

A satellite when viewedfromtheEarthappears to be

stationary
Characteristics of a Geostationarysatellite

Timeperiod ofsatellite Time period of Earth's rotation aroundits anis

Orbitalradiusof a Geostationary Satellite

25
Em
T

Wyatt
24 60 60 23

8 4 2 x 107m
Orbitalradiusof Geostationary Satellite
 RE G u xto'm
bit of Geostationary

4 2 x 107 6 6 satellite is 6.6 times

6 u x 100 theradiusofEarth

Note Geostationary satellites are usedtoo longterm communication

Non Geostationary satellites are generally usedfor Espionageespying

Angularvelocity of the Angular velocity of the rotation of the

Satellite Ws Earthaboutits anis We

Same sense of rotation as earth west to east

A geostationary satellite must be launched in equatorialorbit

Concept of Gravitational Potential8

It is a scalar quantity whichis denoted by the symbol 0 and is
measured in units Jug

At a distance r fromthe source mars the value of gravitational

away
potential d can becalculated usingthe expression

P infinity
r
Op
GI Source man m
 Based on the above equation gravitational potentialisdefinedasthe
amount of work done in moving a unit mass frominfinity to
anypoint
within the gravitational field

Enample
A

7 10 6.0 102
da 6.67 10
m
y y
0a 57 107 I lug

Negative sign of 0 implies that gravitational field is of an attractive

native

A Negative sign implies that work is alwaysdone bythefield in moving a unit

mass towards the source mass This work done bringsabout a lossofenergy
whichis represented
by the negative sign in theequation

It a graph of 0 against r isplotted it can be noticedthat thevalue of 0

becomes zero as r approaches infinity Therefore for all values within
infinity the value 0 can be regarded asnegative
 06kg

rim

The quantity is known as change in gravitational potential

and is denoted by D d It is defined as the amount

of work done in moving a unit mail from one

point to another point within the gravitationalfield

Potential
Change in Gravitational
The quantity known as change in gravitationalpotential is denotedby do
It is defined as the amount of workdone in moving a unitmass from one

point to anotherpoint within the gravitationalfield

Canbe calculated usingthe followingequation

DO Ofinal dinitial

Enample Initial
find
so
rt ft
p Do
n
off Gtf
 DO
Ging GE
where

Ri distancefromthe centreofthe sourcemass A0 GM

theinitialposition
h h
Ra distancefromthe centreof the sourcemass
thefinalposition

Concept of Gravitational Potentialenergy

u O m

Scalar quantity
units J
Symbol a

Change in Gravitational potentialenergy

Du DO m

Enample
A

18 10 m
A2 g ox

Initially at rest a mass of 5kg is placed at position A

Calculate the speed whenthe mass reaches B
notneededforloss inKe loss in GREwill be represented
lost n with anegativesign in the equation
gainin Ake g ape
 m v2 6.67 10 46.01 M
I 1 z.dz

I I C
v2
126m
Got I
V 333.4 166 mi s
V I 3300m Is

Note
Mgh is not applicable since g's value is onlyforthe surface of the Earth
near the surface of the earth
V2 u 2es not applicable since equations are onlyapplicable when acceleration

is constant

Away from the surface of theearth acceleration doesnot remain constant

Concept of Escape velocity

Assuming Earthto be isolated

infinity Gain in GRE loss in UE

DO m 112 muEsc

Re Ofinal Oinitial v se
p
L
uses
Me
GM Gf I
E Vesc
An AlternateFormula ÉIj

IE on surface
g 9mg

g on surface of

GME
Vesa planetLeath

Re

Ée
Vesa Vesa
Re Vesc 6 ux1o6

11,200ms

How to calculate NewEscape velocity if other bodies are taken into

consideration

nullpoint

Earth moon

At nullpoint gnet 0

This means in order to escape Earth's gravitationalfieldobject

 should haveenough kinetic energy to reach nullpoint

Calculate the velocity of escape fromthe Earth's surface

loss in KE Gain in GRE du

m v2 om
I
Of OI
VI
1061 12 tho

v 7483 27500
 came
solution

loss in GPE Bu Gain in KPE

Do if m v2
II
Oc or 42v2

LL 28 x106 12 x 1061 112v2

Gradient of Gravitational Potential 6 us distance Cr is gravitational

field strength g
O G Mr
GI
C D GMr
2 GMV 2
dg
i
GI g

This is
why nullpoint is a turningpoint stationarypoint on 0 us r
graph

Derivation of mgh using the concept of GPE

DU A 0 m
R
BU 0 u
I Of m

11
su
1 Ye
 Du t Re WIRE
fame ret Ea

su
Lame
i it

f
du ame m onsurface
yahya
g
YI
Du GME
gr m gree
Iggy
D u Assumption of mgh is only valid as longas h
Mgh
in theformula is negligible as compared to the

radiusof theEarth

y
w y t
auto
Inverse relationship

I
 a
y
u

n
yo t
Into
negative inverse relationship

Eupressions for calculating kineticEnergy Eu Gravitational Potential

Energy
M and TotalEnergy for a satellite performing
circularMotion around

the Earth
mass ofsatellite m

kinetic Energy mass of Earth ME

Fc For orbital radius of
Satellite
G Men
Mf r 2

v2 GMI En z m Et
Gift
 Inverse relationship
Eu
EulJ I

rim

Gravitational Potential Energy

a
U d m
41J
u
Gt
m
Jim
u
GII u x Yr

negative inverse
Total Energy relationship

TE KE G PE

L Ye
TE
GEET
 TEL J n

grim
TE L Ii

Question
MEarth 6 102
ox
ng
Mmoon 7 34 x 1022kg

distance between the centre of earth and moon 3 84 108 m

Calculate the Gravitational forceof attraction between Earthand

Moon
For 6.67 10 6.0 1027 7.34 1022
GMg.fm 2
3 84 100

For 2 o x 1020N

The moon shifts 4cm into an outer orbit calculate thecharge in GRECsa
by

Initialposition
finalposition
moon moon

Earth 4cm
 Mm

f
du
Gtfo
so m of 0 Mm
ftp.ax.o
D u 8 10 J

Alternate way
Du wool done byFor
Du Lfa d I 2 0 1020 4 10 4 8 1010J

We can use this approach because 4cmis a reallyreallysmall

number

Question

Calculate KE of the particle state whether it is an increase or

decrease
loss in GRE gain in KE
som
gainEn KE
su

gainin K E f C u x io L lox 106 50

 in 68 2 0 108 J
gain

Concept of Binary star

star system consists of two stars which perform circular
Binary
motion about a fined point labelled
0 in the diagram Thestar of

mass Mi has a circular orbit of radius R andthe stor ofmass Ma

has a circular orbit ofradiusR2 Both stars rotate in the same

direction and have the same angular velocity w sothat the

distance between them remains constant at all times
The centripetal force required byeachstar to perform circular motion is

provided by the gravitational force between the two stars Usingthe

above system it can be proved for this system to wook
the

longer Sto must operate in a smaller radius and smaller star operates

in a larger radius

RI R2
yo

MZ
M

Foo Sto Mi Fou sto M2

For Fc For Fo
GM M2 M R W GM Mz Ma Ra wz
2
Ri razz Re Rz
 FGprovides fo i it Fa is same cats of A and B then the magnitude of
Fc must also be identical
M R W2 Mz R2 W

Question
For a binary star system Given that 4 Rit Ra toxto'm
My
F 3
year
Calculate Ri Ra Mi Ma

R2 ar
If
4
BE
R Ra t o x 1010 5R 1 ox 1010

Ri t GR to x1010 Re 2.0 109

RL her

R2 412 0 109 8 ox 109

Foo star Mi 6.67 to is

For Fc
M R w 6.67 10 20 2,7

Etfs
2
lo xiong
2
1091
3 365 24 3600

Ma 1.3 x1025kg
 Mi 4M2 5 3 x 1025kg

Question
A satellite performs circular motion due to resistive frictional forces
the total
energy
of the satellitedecreases
Suggest what happens to the

Radius
Total energy decrease i e it becomes more ve then this
causes the satellite to move inwards i e theorbital radiusalso
decreases