🔖 Topics

  • Inverse Square Laws
  • Newton's Law of Gravitation
  • Newton's Law of Gravitation Near the Earth's Surface

🎯 Objectives

  • Use Newton's Law of Gravitation to determine the gravitational field around a massive body

📋 Sequence

  • What is an Inverse Square Law?
  • Newton’s Law of Gravitation
  • How Does Newton’s Law of Gravitation Relate to F = mg?
  • Approximations and Errors

🖥️ Animations, Simulations, Activities

N/A

📝 Practice Problems

Field Strength Away From Earth: The gravitational field strength at the surface of the Earth is 9.8 \(m/s^2\). *How far above the Earth would the field strength be \(2/3\) the value at the surface? * How far above the Earth would the field strength be \(1/3\) the value at the surface?

Gravitational Force From Sun and Moon: Calculate the net gravitational force on the Moon from the Earth and Sun during a lunar eclipse (i.e. the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon). Do the same for a solar eclipse (i.e. the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun). You might find it useful to refer to the table of astrophysical data in your book.

Binary Star System: A binary star system consists of two stars with masses \(M\) and \(4M\) that are a distance \(d\) apart. *Sketch a diagram of the system with arrows showing the direction of the gravitational field around the stars. * Where would the gravitational field be equal to zero around these stars?

✅ Partial Solutions

N/A

📘 Connected Resources

  • Giambattista, Alan, et al. College Physics With an Integrated Approach to Forces and Kinematics. 5th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2020.