What is acceleration? What is mass? What is force?

When the ball is release, the ball will reach the ground. Why?

2.8 Understanding Gravity

Explain and determine the value of acceleration due to gravity Define gravitational field and gravitational strength Define weight Solve problems involving acceleration due to gravity

What is gravity?
Galileo and Newton helped us understand gravity as a force that exists between the Earth and objects.
G alileo

Newton showed that the same force exists between all objects.

Even today, no one knows exactly why objects attract each other.
Sir Isaac N ewton

Isaac Newton 1655

Objects fall to the ground at the same rate because acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects.

Both objects reach the bottom at the same time

Conclusion
The acceleration of an objects does not depend on the mass

 Definition:

Acceleration of an object due to the pull of the gravitational force only. The value of acceleration due to gravity, g is 9.8 ms-2

An

object is falls freely under the influence of gravitational force only

Definition:

Region in which an object experiences a force due to gravitational attraction Any massive object that enters this field will experience a force of attraction This field will get weaker the further you go out from the centre of earth

Earth: half size

GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

Earth: Half Size

 Gravitational

field strength is defined as the gravitational force per unit mass

F g m
N Nkg 1 kg
Gravitational

9.8 N kg-1 Gravitational field strength of moon is 1.6 N kg-1

field strength of the earth is

 Weight

is a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object.

gravity is a force and weight is a measure of gravity, weight is expressed in newtons (N).

Since

 Define:

Gravitational force acting on a

body

W mg

Where

mass is m and g is gravitational field strength or the acceleration due to gravity Unit = N

 The

rate at which objects accelerate towards Earth is 9.8 m/s2.

acceleration is the same for all objects, regardless of their mass.

This

 The

amount of air resistance depends on the size and shape of an object. gravity pulls an object down, towards the Earth, the air resistance pushes an object up, or away from the Earth.

While

 When

there is no air resistance, an object is in free fall. object is in free fall only if gravity is pulling it down and no other forces are acting on it.

An

ball falls vertically a distance of 125 m to the ground. Using g = 9.8 ms-2 ; calculate:
Time the ball takes to fall the first 25m Time the ball takes to reach the ground The velocity of ball before it hits the ground

a) b)

c)

 What

is Alis weight on the earth and moon if its mass is 70kg? Use g earth = 9.8 ms-2 and g moon = 1.6 ms-2

Question time

1 3

2 4

Question 1
Our bodies are pulled down to the earth's surface by A. Newtons B. Weight C. Gravity

Question 2
Object with different mass have acceleration due to gravity
A. B. C.

Difference Same Zero

Question 3
Value of acceleration due to gravity on earth is 9.8
ms-1
A. B.

True False

Question 4
If an object fall with an acceleration due to gravity, the velocity of the object must A. Be constant B. Continuously change by the same amount each second C. Continuously change by varying amount each second D. Continuously decrease

 Acceleration

due to gravity is the acceleration of an object due to the pull of the gravitational force Gravitational field is the region in which an object experiences a force due to gravitational attraction Free fall is an object falls under the influence of gravitational force only Gravitational field strength is the gravitational force per unit mass Weight is the gravitational force acting on a body