Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples

Key Definitions

  • Gravity: A force of attraction between any two objects with mass.
  • Mass: The amount of matter in an object.
  • Weight: The force of gravity acting on an object.
  • Gravitational Field: A region of space around a massive object where another object experiences a gravitational force.

Key Formulas

  • Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:

    • F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
    • Where:
      • F is the gravitational force between two objects
      • G is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2)  
      • m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects
      • r is the distance between the centers of the two objects
  • Gravitational Potential Energy:

    • U = -G * (m1 * m2) / r
    • Where:
      • U is the gravitational potential energy of the system
      • G, m1, m2, and r are the same as in Newton's Law

Key Concepts

  • Gravitational acceleration: The acceleration due to gravity near the surface of a planet or other celestial body. On Earth, it is approximately 9.81 m/s^2.
  • Orbit: The path followed by an object that is moving around another object under the influence of gravity.
  • Escape velocity: The minimum speed required for an object to escape the gravitational pull of a planet or other celestial body.

Examples

  • The Moon orbiting the Earth: The Moon is held in orbit around the Earth by the gravitational force between them.
  • Falling objects: Objects fall to the ground due to the gravitational force of the Earth.
  • Artificial satellites: Satellites orbit the Earth at a specific altitude to avoid atmospheric drag and maintain a stable orbit.

Additional Notes

  • The gravitational force between two objects is always attractive, regardless of their masses or charges.
  • The gravitational force between two objects decreases as the distance between them increases.
  • The gravitational potential energy of a system is negative, indicating that work must be done to separate the objects.
Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples

Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples

Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples

Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples

Gravitation - Quick study guide, key formulas, definitions, and examples