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Questions and Answers
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force of attraction between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their ______.
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force of attraction between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their ______.
centers
The gravitational constant (G) is approximately ______ Nm²/kg².
The gravitational constant (G) is approximately ______ Nm²/kg².
6.674 × 10^-11
Gravitational force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the ______.
Gravitational force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the ______.
sun
A satellite in a circular orbit maintains a ______ speed and direction.
A satellite in a circular orbit maintains a ______ speed and direction.
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Weight is defined as the force of gravity acting on an object's ______.
Weight is defined as the force of gravity acting on an object's ______.
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The equation for weight is given as ______ = mass × acceleration due to gravity.
The equation for weight is given as ______ = mass × acceleration due to gravity.
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The strength of gravitational force depends on the masses of the objects and the ______ between them.
The strength of gravitational force depends on the masses of the objects and the ______ between them.
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Artificial satellites are used for communication, weather forecasting, and ______ like GPS.
Artificial satellites are used for communication, weather forecasting, and ______ like GPS.
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In free fall, the only force acting on an object is the force of ______.
In free fall, the only force acting on an object is the force of ______.
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Gravitational force follows the ______ law, meaning it decreases as distance increases.
Gravitational force follows the ______ law, meaning it decreases as distance increases.
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Study Notes
Laws of Gravitation
- Gravitation is a fundamental force of attraction between any two objects with mass.
- Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force of attraction between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
- Mathematically, this is expressed as F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance between their centers.
- The gravitational constant (G) is a fundamental constant in physics, approximately 6.674 × 10^-11 Nm²/kg².
- The force is always attractive, meaning it pulls objects towards each other.
Gravitational Force
- Gravitational force is the force of attraction that exists between all matter in the universe.
- The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them.
- Larger masses mean stronger forces, and greater distances mean weaker forces.
- Gravitational force follows the inverse square law
- The force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the sun, the moon around the Earth, and objects on the Earth's surface.
- This force is very weak compared to other fundamental forces like the electromagnetic force.
Satellite Motion
- Satellites orbit Earth (or other celestial bodies) due to the gravitational force between the satellite and Earth.
- The force of gravity provides the centripetal force needed to keep the satellite in its orbit.
- The speed of a satellite in orbit determines the shape and size of its orbit.
- A satellite in a circular orbit has a constant speed and direction.
- Elliptical orbits are possible, though the speed of the satellite changes while in its orbit.
- Factors affecting a satellite's orbit include mass, altitude, and speed. Higher altitudes generally mean larger orbits.
- Artificial satellites are used for communication, weather forecasting, and navigation (like GPS).
Weight vs. Mass
- Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It's constant regardless of location.
- Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object's mass. It varies depending on the strength of the gravitational field.
- Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity (w = m × g).
- Weight is a force, measured in Newtons (N), while mass is measured in kilograms (kg).
- Your weight on the moon would be significantly less than your weight on Earth because the acceleration due to gravity on the moon is much less.
Free Fall
- Free fall occurs when an object is falling under the sole influence of gravity.
- Air resistance is ignored in a true free fall
- All objects in free fall accelerate at the same rate (approximately 9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface), regardless of their mass.
- This is because the force of gravity is proportional to the mass of the object, and so is the object's inertia. These two effects cancel out, leading to similar acceleration for objects of different mass.
- Neglecting air resistance, the vertical velocity of an object increases at a constant rate during free fall.
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Description
Test your understanding of the laws of gravitation, including Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and the mathematical concepts associated with gravitational force. Explore how mass and distance affect the gravitational pull between objects.
