Physics Notes - Space

1. Define weight as the force on an object due to a gravitational field

The weight of an object is the force of gravity acting on it
Weight is directly related to the strength of the gravitational field at the point where
the object is located, and is equal to the force which the field is exerting on the
object.
Mathematical definition:

W =mg

Questions:
Predict the weight of a 5 kg object on
Earth compared to its weight on Jupiter (
2

24.8 m. s

), and explain the reasoning

behind your prediction.

Answer:
Using

W =mg

find the mass of the

5N
0.5102 kg
1
9.8 N . k g

weight:

Find the weight on Jupiter:

0.5102 kg 24 N . kg1 12.65 N

W is the weight in newtons (N)

m is the mass in kilograms (kg)
g can be either, acceleration due to
Questions:
An object has a mass of 12 kg on
Earth and a weight of 135.24 on
Saturn. Calculate the value of the
acceleration due to gravity on
Saturn, and the objects weight on
Earth.
Answer:
Using,

W =mg , find the

acceleration due to gravity on

Saturn:

135.24 N
1
=11.27 N .k g
12 kg
2

gravity ( 9.8 m. s

) or gravitational field strength ( 9.8 N . k g

2. Explain that a change in gravitational potential energy is related to

work done
The gravitational potential energy is a measure of the work
done in moving an object from infinity to a point of
field
Work done is the measure of how much energy was used
to displace an object a specified distance.
where

W =Fs

is displacement. When an object is moved

away from a gravitational field, it gains energy. This is

because by raising it up from the fields origin, work is
done. If a 1kg dango was raised 100m, then work done
would be 980J. Thus when the dango is at 100m
then it is storing 980J of potential energy. But if you suddenly drop it then the
potential energy will be converted into kinetic energy. Therefore we can conclude

1 kg
1 kg

that the Gravitational energy is the potential

relating to work done.

kg
11 kg

to do work, thus

For a mass that is near the earths surface, the equation for gravitational potential
energy is:

E =mgh

3. Define gravitational potential energy as the work done to move an object

from a very large distance away to a point in a gravitational field
For this dot point, many questions will ask you why
value takes a negative value.

potential

All objects in a gravitational field will experience a weight

force.
If
this weight force is not opposed then the object will
experience
acceleration due to this weight force. For example if we
dropped a
ball from a tall building then (ignoring air resistance) the ball will
keep getting
faster and faster. The ball is accelerating, which means that the
velocity
of
the ball is increasing. As its velocity is increasing the balls
kinetic energy will also be increasing. That is, the object is
gaining energy in the form of kinetic energy. However energy
cannot
be created, so where is this energy coming from? Well the
object has
energy due to its presence in a gravitational field, which is
known
as
gravitational potential energy. As the ball falls towards Earth its gravitational
potential energy is being converted into kinetic energy of the ball. Thus the closer
the object is to the mass that creates the gravitational field, then the less the
gravitational potential energy of the object in the gravitational field will be. Because
as the object gets closer its kinetic energy is increasing, so as energy must be
conserved, the gravitational potential energy must be decreasing.
Gravitational fields, like many fields, have no theoretical maximum range and
theoretically exist at an infinite distance away from an object. In practice, because
gravitational fields obey inverse square law and decrease in strength rapidly as
distance increases, at large distances the field is for all intents and purposes
nonexistent. This reasoning explains why gravitational potential energy is negative,
because at

d= ,

Ep=0

and as the distance decreases the gravitational

potential energy too will decrease, hence the gravitational potential energy of an
object in a gravitational field must be negative.

Extension

E p=G m1 m2 r

Deriving the equation.

Since the potential energy is the
opposite of work done:

E p=W

The formula for work done is:

F dr

E p= F dr

Therefore:

Since the inward gravitational force is

opposite to the displacement in work
done:

m 1 m2

E p=G m1 m2

[]

E p=G m1 m2

[ ]

E p=G

F dr=F dr

F=G

1
dr
r2

1 +
r
1
0
r

m1 m2
r

Tada!

r2

Mathematical Definition:

E =G

m1 m p
rp

E =Gravitational Potential Energy (Joules)

Where:

G=Universal Gravitational Constant

m 1m p=Mass of the firstsecond object (kg)
r p=distance the centre of the Earth(m)
1. Perform an investigation and gather information to determine a value for
acceleration due to gravity using pendulum motion or computer-assisted
technology and identify reasons for possible variations from the value 9.8

m s2

Aim
To perform a first-hand investigation using simple pendulum motion to determine a
value of acceleration due the Earths gravity (g).

Hypothesis
The period of a pendulum ( T ) is related to the length of the string of the
pendulum ( l ) by the equation:

T =2

l
g

If we rearrange this equation we should be able to calculate the acceleration due to

gravity ( g ):

g=

4 2 l
2
t

Method
1. Construct a pendulum (as shown in the diagram), with its string
attached to the top of the boss clamp, and a mass of 50 grams
attached to the lower end of the string.
2. Adjust the length of the string so that it is about one metre
long.
3. Move the mass so that the string makes an angle of about
with the vertical
4. Release the mass and measure the time for 10 complete
oscillations.
5. Shorten the length of the string by 5 centimetres and
repeat steps 2 to 4

30

Results
Time for 10
oscillations (s)

Period (T)

Period Squared (

Length of
Pendulum ( l )
100 centimetres
95 Centimetres
90 Centimetres

Other Information
Calculating g:
First method:

T =2

l
g

T 2 =( 2 )2

If we plot the values of T

versus

l
g

l :

The graph should have a

parabolic like curve.

4 2 l
g= 2
T
Substitute each period and length into the equation, and calculate g. Then take an
average value of the four g values found.
Second Method:
Use a graph to plot the relationship between

l and T as shown in Figure 1.6 (b).

Because is the independent variable and T is the dependent variable, we usually

plot

on the xIf we plot the values of

versus

l :

The graph should have being

drawn with the line of best fit.

axis and T on the y-axis.

T =2

l
g

T 2 =( 2 )2

T 2 =(

l
g

4
)l
g

Accuracy and experimental errors.

-

The time for 10 oscillations was measured because if the number of

oscillations was too small, timing would become very difficult: the human
reaction time would be quite large compared to the swing time, resulting in a
significant amount of error in timing. If the number of oscillations was too
many, then the pendulum would not be able to maintain its constant swing
due to air resistance, which also would make the experiment less accurate.

The value of gravitational acceleration of earth varies from place to place.

An angle of 5 degrees or more may cause the pendulum to change to a

conical pendulum which will alter the results as a more complex formula is
needed to calculate T

Earths globe is flattened at the poles, due to centrifugal force, which means
that the distance of the surface from the centre of the Earth is less at the
poles, which increases the local value of g.

Earths lithosphere is not homogeneous, which means it varies in thickness,

density and structure. Thickness variations are a product of the source and
history of the material. Oceanic crust is thinner than continental crust.
Continental crust is thickest under mountain ranges. Density variations occur
due to the presence of concentrated and large mineral deposits or petroleum
gas and related liquids trapped in sedimentary rocks and structures. All of
these variations can influence local values of g.

The spinning Earth also affects the value of g. At the equator, the spin effect
is greatest resulting in a lowering of the value of g. As you travel from the
equator to the poles, the spin effect on g shrinks to zero.
Improving the accuracy of an object.
Reduce air currents by closing windows, shielding the pendulum from the
surrounding air and using a more streamline mass bob. In fact, a more
advanced pendulum experiment is actually done inside a vacuum bulb.
In general, doing the experiment in a team and repeating the experiment
many times will improve the accuracy of the experiment.
Human reaction time may also affect the time of the 10 oscillations

2. Gather secondary information to predict the value of acceleration due to

gravity on other planets

In order to find
need to use two

F =m g
the
two

since

The formula to calculate

the gravitational
acceleration

mg=G

force
of
equations

calculate

the

g=G

mp m2
r

m p m2
2

r m

the acceleration due to gravity we

equations

F=G

m1 m2

and

r2

both equations can be used to find

certain value. We can combine these
and derive a formula that can
value of g .

2.
Many factors have to be taken into account to achieve a
successful rocket launch, maintain a stable orbit and return to Earth
1. Describe the trajectory of an object undergoing projectile motion within the
Earths gravitational field in terms of horizontal and vertical components
A projectile motion is a motion that is under the influence of only one force, the
weight force.
The general flight paths of a
trajectory is parabolic,
assuming that air
resistance is
ignored and
gravity is

constant.

The horizontal component of velocity ( v x ) remains constant throughout the

2

trajectory since there is no force against it, hence the equation v x =u x . The
vertical component is constantly under the influence of the gravitational
field, and will fall towards the ground at a constant acceleration regardless of
the horizontal velocity. For example, if I shoot a bullet and dropped a tennis
ball at the same time (assuming no air resistance and uniform gravitational

force), then both objects will hit the ground at exactly the same time,
because the horizontal component has no influence on the projectile and
trajectory.
Calculating the overall velocity of a projectile can be done through analyzing
the horizontal and vertical vectors. Taking the diagram above as an example
lets calculate the overall velocity.
If we rearrange the vectors.
Through Pythagorean Theorem we can solve the
overall velocity.

v =23.97 + 25.28
2

The reverse can also be done for v y =u sin ,

v x =u cos , and

m
v=34.83
s

25.28

x
=tan 1 ( ) .
y

2. Describe Galileos analysis of projectile motion

In Galileos analysis he noted several things:
-

A projectile horizontal and vertical components are independent of each other

(see above)
Vertical acceleration was the same for all projectiles regardless of mass and
size (ignoring air resistance), in essence all projectiles was influenced by the
same gravitational field and thus accelerated at a constant speed.
o He proved this in a famous experiment where he dropped two balls of
different mass from the leaning Tower of Pisa.
The projectile travelled at a parabolic like shape

3. Explain the concept of escape velocity in terms of the gravitational constant

and the mass and radius of the planet.

23.97
m
s

m
s