HSC Physics Core Module 1 Space

1. The Earth has a gravitational field that exerts a force on obects both on
it and around it.
!efine "eight as the force on an obect due to a gravitational field.
Gravity is a force of attraction that exists between any two objects. Usually this is
a very small, if not negligible force. However, when one or both of the masses is
as large as a planet, then the force becomes very significant. The force of
attraction between Earth and our own bodes is the force we call our "eight. This
force exists wherever we are on or near the Earths surface. Thus we can say that
a gravitational field exists around the Earth.
The #a" of $niversal %ravitation
!n an attempt to explain the forces that govern the motion of the planets around
the sun, &e"ton proposed the law of Universal Gravitation"
There exists an attractive force called Gravitational force between any two
objects. The gravitational force is proportional to the masses of the objects and
inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two objects.
#f course, in reality, there may be more than two objects involved in applying a
gravitational force.
$% $&
' $ %$&
' $ %$& ( d
2
' %(d
2
' ( % )m1 m2 / d
2
*
' ) Gravitational force *+,
$%$& ) $asses of #bjects involved *-g,
d or r ) .entre to centre distance *m,
&ote+ G is the universal gravitational constant and is e/ual to"
% ( ,.,- x 1.
-11
& /
2
0g
-2
&ote+ that this is always an attractive force and is exerted e/ually on both
masses. !t depends only upon the value of the two masses and their separation
distance.
'urther &ote+ 'orce is inversely proportional to the s/uare of the distance.
Hence, in any given situation, if the distance were to double, the value of the
force would drop one /uarter of its previous value.
d
&ote+
d and r can both be
used for a centre to
centre distance
'
d
2
1epler2s 3
rd
#a"
The 'orce acting on an object as it revolves around a mass is given by the
centripedal force formula"
'c ( / v
2
4 5
0here 1 is the orbital radius *centre to centre distance between the masses,.
'G ( % )m M / R
2
*
/ v
2
4 5 ( % )m M / R
2
*
v
2
( % ) M 4 5 *
2ut the velocity of the object is e/ual to the distance traveled over the time ta-en
v ( 654t
% ) M 4 5 * ( ) 654t *
2
E7uating this "e get 1epler2s 3
rd
#a"+
5
3
4 t
2
( % M 4 8
2
( Constant
$eaning of the 3aw"
51
3
4 t1
2
( 52
3
4 t2
2
( 53
3
4 t3
2
( 9 ( Constant
!n our solar system"
:hat is a %ravitational 'ield;
4 %ravitational 'ield is a field *or a region of space, around a mass within
which any other mass will experience a gravitational force. The field has both
strength and direction.
Gravitational strength *g, is a number used to indicate the strength of the
gravitational field at a particular point within the field.
.entripedal 'orce
&ote+
m refers to the mass of
the revolving object
*ie. 5maller mass,
$ refers to the mass of
the larger object
1
3
t
2
%radient+ % M 4 8
2

Planets
The gravitational field of a planet or
star extends some distance from it.
The figure to the left shows the Earths
Gravitational field.
+ote that closer to Earth6 the field
lines are closer together. This indicates
that the field, and its force, are
stronger in this region.
4ny large object near the Earth, such
as the moon, will have a gravitational
field of its own, and the two fields
combine to form a more complex field.
The gravitational attraction of the
Earth and that of the moon are
precisely e/ual but in opposite
direction.
%ravitation 'ield round The Earth and the Moon+
4 field vector is a single vector that describes the strength and direction of a
uniform vector field. 'or a gravitational field, the field vector is g, which is defined
in this way"
g ( ' 4 /
0here" ' ) 'orce exerted *+, on mass m 7 8ector 9uantity
m ) mass *-g, in the field
g ) the field vector *+ -g
-1
, 7 8ector 9uantity
&ote+ 4 net force applied to a mass will cause it to accelerate. *' ) ma,
Hence, it can be said that the field vector, g, also represents the acceleration due
to gravity. The #a" of $niversal %ravitation says that the force of attraction
between the Earth and an object on the Earths surface is given by"
' ( % )me mo / Re
2
*
:here+
/e( $ass of the Earth ) <.=- x 1.
24

0g
/o ) $ass of the object in -g
5e ) 1adius of the Earth ) ,.3> x 1.
,
/
Earth

?ariations in the value of g
8ariations with geographical location"
: The Earths crust *or lithosphere, shows variations in thic-ness and
structure due to factors such as tectonic plate boundaries and mineral
deposits, these can slightly alter the value of g
: The Earth in not a perfect sphere, rather it is flattened at the poles.
Thus the poles are closer to the Earths core, thus the value of g will be
greater at the poles.
: The rotational affect of the Earth results in a centrifugal effect that
reduces the effective value of g. The effect is greatest at the e/uator
and there is no effect at the poles.
8ariations with altitude"
: 4s we increase the altitude, the value will decrease"
g ( % ) M 4 @5 A altitudeB
2
&ote+ as the altitude increases the value of g decreases, dropping to ;ero
only when the altitude has an infinite value.
8ariations with <lanetary 2odies
: The formula for g shows that the value of g depends upon the mass
and radius of the central body. #ther planets and natural satellites
*moons, have a variety of masses and radii, so that value of g
elsewhere in our solar system can be /uite different from that on
Earth.
:eight+
:eight is defined as the force on a mass due to the gravitational field of a large
celestial body, such as the Earth. 5ince it is a force, it is measured in newtons.
0e can use newtons second law to define a simple formula for weight"
+ewtons second law states that"
' ) ma
Hence" : ( /g
0here 0 ) weight *+,
m ) mass *-g,
g ) acceleration due to gravity at that place *m s
:&
,
Practical+
Measuring Ccceleration due to gravity
4 simple pendulum can be used to measure the acceleration due to gravity.
$easure the length *3 in cm, and period *T in sec, of a simple pendulum and use"
g ( 8
2
# 4 T
2
to calculate the acceleration due to gravity. =ou should use a small displacement
because this e/uation can only be accurate for a swing of less than %> degrees.
2y timing for ten complete oscillations and dividing by ten, errors in timing the
period can be minimised. ?oing this several times and ta-ing the average will
further minimise errors.
'riction in the pendulum and the difficulty of measuring the centre of mass of the
bob may also cause small errors in your result.