Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
F1 F2
F1 m1 F2 m2
But Newtons third law states that these forces are equal:
F1 = F2
Fgrav Fgrav
r
7 of 36 Boardworks Ltd 2010
Calculating gravitational forces
test mass
A test mass is a
mass that is small
enough not to
affect the shape of field lines
the field with its
own gravity.
4. Cancel m: g = G M / r2
force law F = G m1 m2 / r2 F = k Q 1 Q 2 / r2
field strength g = G M / r2 E = k Q / r2
Ep = G M m / r r
V = Ep / m
W = m V
V is a change in gravitational
potential, which is called a
gravitational potential difference.
initial Ep = G M m / r1 final Ep = G M m / r2
V = G M / r
So V is inversely proportional to r:
0 r
Gravitational potential is
always negative, so the
graph looks like a
normal inverse
relationship reflected in
V the horizontal axis.
V is related to g by: g = V / r
V g
Can you use what you know about circular motion to derive
the following expression for M? M = v2 r / G
M = v2 r / G
T2 = ( 42
GM )r
3
T2 r3