Gravitation

Objectives
 Gravitation Field
A gravitational field is a region of space in which any object with mass
experiences a gravitational force.
The strength of this gravitational field (g) at a point, is the force (FG) per unit mass (m) of
an object at that point:

𝑭 𝑮
𝒈=
𝒎

•Where:
• g = gravitational field strength (N kg-1)
• FG = force due to gravity, or weight (N)
• m = mass (kg)
 Representing Gravitational Fields
Gravitational field is represented by arrows called field lines (or 'lines
of force').
 The direction of the
gravitational field is the
direction of the force on a
test mass placed in the
field.

 The spacing of the field

lines gives an idea of the
strength of the field.
 Closer = stronger
 Further = weaker
 Newton's Law of Gravitation
The gravitational force between two point masses is proportional to
the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square
their separation

𝑮𝑴𝒎

𝐹 𝐺∝𝑀𝑚
𝑭 𝑮 =− 𝟐
𝒓

•Where:
• FG = gravitational force between two masses (N)
• G = Newton’s gravitational constant
• M and m = two points masses (kg)
• r = distance between the centre of the two masses (m)
Newton's Law of Gravitation

𝑮𝑴𝒎
𝑭 𝟏 =𝑭 𝟐=− 𝟐
𝒓
Variation of g with r (inverse square
law)
𝑭 𝑮𝑴
𝒈 = =−
𝒎 𝒓
𝟐
Gravitational Potential Energy Between Two Point
Masses

The work done in bringing a mass from infinity to that point.

𝐺𝑀𝑚
𝐸 𝑃 =−
𝑟
Change in gravitational potential energy between two
points

Δ 𝐸 𝑃 =𝐺𝑀𝑚
1
−
1
𝑟1 𝑟2 ( )
 Gravitational Potential(Φ or V)
The work done per unit mass in bringing a test mass from infinity to a
defined point.

𝐺𝑀
Φ=−
𝑟

•Where:
ΔΦ=𝐺𝑀
1 1
−
𝑟1 𝑟 2 ( )
• ɸ = gravitational potential (J kg-1)
• G = Newton’s gravitational constant
• M = mass of the body producing the gravitational
field (kg)
• r = distance from the centre of the mass to
the point mass (m)
 Equipotential Lines/Surfaces
Equipotential lines (when working in 2D) and surfaces (when working in 3D) join together
points that have the same gravitational potential
No work is done when moving along
an equipotential line or surface,
only between equipotential lines or
surfaces
This means that an object travelling
along an equipotential doesn't lose or
gain energy and ΔΦ = 0
 Graphical Representation of Φ
A graph of gravitational potential, Φ or V,
against r for a planet is:
The key features of this graph are:

o The values for V are all negative

o As r increases, V against r follows a -1/r relation

o The gradient of the graph at any particular point

is the value of g at that point

o The graph has a shallow increase as r increases

 Circular Orbits in Gravitational Fields
𝐹 𝑐= 𝐹 𝐺
2
𝑚𝑣 𝐺𝑀𝑚
=
𝑟 𝑟
2

2 𝐺𝑀
𝑣 =
𝑟
This means that all satellites,
whatever their mass, will travel at
the same speed v in a particular
orbit radius r
 Geostationary Orbits
•Many communication satellites around
Earth follow a geostationary orbit

•This is a specific type of orbit in which

the satellite:

• Remains directly above the

equator, therefore, it always
orbits at the same point above the
Earth’s surface

• Moves from west to east (same

direction as the Earth spins)

• Has an orbital time period equal

to Earth’s rotational period of 24
hours
 Geostationary Orbits
Geostationary satellites are used in:
ᔢ weather monitoring
ᔢ television transmission.
ᔢ telephone communication

Global positioning satellites (GPS) are not

geostationary. They have a period of 12 hours.
They orbit at a height of approximately 2.02 ×
104 km

Global positioning satellites are used:

ᔢ for time synchronisation
ᔢ in cellular telephony
ᔢ to track vehicles
ᔢ to guide missiles
ᔢ to determine precise location on the Earth
 Escape Velocity
This is the minimum initial speed needed to overcome a gravitational
field with no further energy input.

𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒇𝑬𝒌=𝑮𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝑬𝒑
2 𝐺𝑀
2
𝑣=
𝑟
•Where:
• m = mass of the object in the gravitational field (kg)
• v = escape velocity of the object (m s -1)
• G = Newton's Gravitational Constant
• M = mass of the object to be escaped from (ie. a planet) (kg)
• r = distance from the centre of mass M (m)
 Example
A satellite with mass 6500 kg is orbiting the Earth at 2000 km above the
Earth's surface. The gravitational force between them is 37 kN. Calculate the
mass of the Earth. Radius of the Earth = 6400 km, G = 6.67 × 10 -11 Nm2kg-2.

𝐺𝑀𝑚
𝐹 =− 2
𝑟

− 11
3 6.67 ×10 ×6500 × 𝑀
37 × 10 = 3 3 2
(6400 ×10 +2000 ×10 )
24
𝑀 =6.02 ×10 𝑘𝑔
Example
A spacecraft of mass 300 kg leaves the surface of Mars to an altitude of
700 km. Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the
spacecraft. Radius of Mars = 3400 km, mass of Mars = 6.4 × 1023 kg

Δ 𝐸𝑝 =𝐺𝑀𝑚
1
−
1
𝑟1 𝑟 2( )
Δ 𝐸𝑝 =6.67 × 10
− 11 23
× 300 ×6.4 ×10
( 1
3400 × 103
−
1
4100 ×10 3 )
6
Δ 𝐸𝑝 =643.08 × 10 J
 Example
A spacecraft aims to leave a planet’s gravitational pull from the surface. Given
that the planet’s mass is approximately 5.972 × 1024 kg and the spacecraft
needs to leave with a speed of 11000 ms-1, calculate the radius of the planet.

𝑣=
√ 2 𝐺𝑀
𝑟

√
−11 24
2 ×6.67 ×10 ×5.972 ×10
11000=
𝑟
17
7.97 ×10
𝑟= 2
11000
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