Ch3

Universal Gravitation
Gravity
• If the force of gravity is
being exerted on objects
on Earth, what is the
origin of that force?
• Newton’s realization is
that it must have come
from the Earth
• He realized that gravity
must be what keeps the
Moon in orbit
Applying the Law of Universal
Gravitation
• There are 2 equal, but opposite forces present.
• For the force of attraction to be noticeable, at least one
of the objects must be very large
• The inverse square relationship between FG and r
means the force of attraction diminishes rapidly as the
two objects move apart
• Also, there is no value of r, that would make this force
0
• This equation only applies to spherical objects, to two
objects whose sizes are much smaller than their
separation distance
Example 2 - Spacecraft
3.4 SATELLITES
& SPACE STATIONS
Satellite Motion
• A satellite is an object or a body that
revolves around another body.
• Satellites can be categorized as natural
satellites or man-made satellites.
Satellites in Circular Orbit
• Newton related the cause for heavenly motion (the orbit of
the moon about the earth) to the cause for Earthly motion
(the falling of an apple to the Earth) and this led him to his
notion of universal gravitation.
• He surmised that the same force that pulled an apple
downward as it fall from a tree was responsible for keeping
the Moon in orbit
 Satellites in Circular Orbit
• Why doesn’t the moon hit the ground?
– The Moon travels at the speed that keeps
it at approximately the same distance,
called the orbital radius, from Earth’s
centre.
– As the moon circles Earth, it is undergoes
constant free fall toward Earth (same is
true for all natural and artificial
satellites).
– A satellite pulled by the force of gravity
toward Earth follows a curved path.
– Since Earth’s surface is curved, the
satellite falls downward at the same rate
as Earth’s curvature
– If the orbiting free-falling satellite, has the
proper speed for its orbital radius as it
falls toward Earth, it will never land.
Motion of a Satellite in Uniform
Circular Motion
Combining Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation, and
equation for Centripetal Acceleration involves the
satellite’s speed.
GmE 2
GmS mE mS vv
r2

F  2

r r
Used to analyze the
GmE motion of a satellite in
v uniform circular
motion
r
Apparent Weight
• Apparent Weight: the net force exerted on an
accelerating object in an non-inertial frame of
reference
 Classwork
& Homework