Gravitation Calculations

Calculate the gravitational force that keeps the

Moon in orbit given that its mass is 7.35x10
22

kg, the Earths mass is 6.0x10
24
kg, and the
distance between their centres is 3.85x10
8
m.

1.98x10
20
N
Gravitation Calculations
You would have to be 3.96x10
6
m above the
Earths surface to weigh the same as you
would on Mars. Calculate the mass of Mars.
M
E
=6.0X10
24
kg; R
E
=6.4X10
6
m; R
M
=3.39x10
6
m

GmM
E
/(R
E
+h)
2
= GmM
M
/R
M
2

6.42 x 10
23
kg
Gravitational field strength
Gravitational field strength, g, is defined as the gravitational force per unit mass, so:
g = F
grav
/ m
By considering the gravitational force on a small mass, m, from a large mass, M, can you
derive the following formula for the gravitational field strength in a radial field?
g = G M / r
2
1. Start with the equation above: F
grav
= m g
g = G M / r
2
F
grav
= G m M / r
2
2. Use the formula for the force between two point masses:
m g = G m M / r
2
3. Rearrange:
4. Cancel m:
Gravitational Potential Near a
Spherical Planet
What is gravitational potential?

The gravitational potential at any point is the
potential energy of each kilogram of mass at
that point


V = G M / r
How can we derive this equation?
Graphing Gravitational Potential
What is the relationship between V and r

Can you sketch the graph of r against V


Graphing gravitational potential
How does potential vary with radius in a radial field?
V = G M / r
So V is inversely proportional to r:
Gravitational potential is always
negative, so the graph looks like a
normal inverse relationship
reflected in the horizontal axis.
r
V
0
Graphing gravitational field strength
How does gravitational field strength vary with radius?
V is related to g by:
So g is the gradient of a graph of V against r. What shape will this graph be?
Field strength is also inversely proportional to radius.
g = V / r
r
V
0
r
g
0