PN HAZIAH BT AWANG LAH SAS 2007

2.8 UNDERSTANDING GRAVITY

Gravitational _____________________________________________________________________
Field

Gravitational
Field Strength ________________________________________________________
_

Gravitational _________________________________________________________
Acceleration
Common Misconception
Objects have no weight in a
F = ma ( From Newton’s second law) vacuum.
If , F = gravitational force
Mass = 3 kg a = gravitational acceleration = g = 10 ms-2 The Fact :
W = 3 x 10 The absence of air has no effect
= 30 N Gravitational Force = Weight on the weight of an object.
However, it does affect the speed
W = mg and acceleration of falling object
since a falling in a vacuum does
not experience air resistance

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Free Fall
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Example :

A feather and a coin accelerate equally when

there is no air around them

vacuum
In vacuum a feather and a coin will arrived at
same time.
In air, a coin will arrived first.

Reminder :
In free fall object accelerates with gravitational acceleration Common Misconception :
Heavy object always fall
How far and how fast is falling 1.0 s after it is release from rest??? faster than light objects.

s = ut + ½ at2 From The fact :

s = 0 + ½ (10) (1)2 linear This is only true in the
s=5m equation presence of air resistence

Can you imagine !!! in 1.0 s you fall 5m or 16 ft???

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 PN HAZIAH BT AWANG LAH SAS 2007

APPLICATION OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCE

1. Pulley - Find out acceleration of an object.

(a)
smooth

50N

2 kg

smooth
(b)

2 kg

3 kg

rough
( c)

2 kg

3 kg

smooth

(d) 5 kg

smooth
3 kg

(e)
5 kg

3 kg

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 PN HAZIAH BT AWANG LAH SAS 2007

2. Lift
(a) At rest or move with constant velocity
R

(b) Move upwards with ‘a’

R
a

(c) Move downwards with ‘a’

a
W

(d) Free fall

a =g = 10ms-1

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 PN HAZIAH BT AWANG LAH SAS 2007

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