PHYSICS GRAVITATION

Law of Gravitation

Universal Law of Gravitation

Every object in the Universe attracts every other object with a force which is proportional to the product of
their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

 Consider two objects A and B of mass M and m separated by a distance r.

 According to Newton’s law of gravitation, the force F of attraction between the two objects is
o Directly proportional to the product of their masses
F  Mm ...(1)

o Inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

1
F  2 ...(2)
r
o Thus, combining Equations 1 and 2, we get
Mm
F 2
r
GMm
F 
r2
 G is the proportionality constant and is known as the universal gravitation constant.
 The universal gravitation constant G is independent of
o Medium between the two bodies
o Masses of the two bodies
o Distance of separation between the two bodies
 From the equation of force, we have
GMm
F
r2
Fr 2
G 
Mm
 Thus, the SI unit of G is Nm2/kg2.
 The value of G  6.67  1011 N m2 /kg2 .

Importance of the Universal Law of Gravitation

 The universal law of gravitation successfully explained several phenomena which were believed to be
unconnected:
o Motion of the Moon around the Earth
o Motion of the planets around the Sun
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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

o Force which binds us to the Earth

o Tides due to the Moon and the Sun

Acceleration due to Gravity of the Earth

 The force of attraction exerted by the Earth towards its centre on a body is called gravitational pull or
gravity.
 Whenever objects fall towards the Earth under the influence of gravitational force, we say that the
objects are in free fall.

 The acceleration produced in the motion of a body under the effect of gravity is called acceleration
due to gravity.
 According to Newton’s second law of motion, the force on a falling object of mass m is F = mg.
F GM
g= = 2
m R
GMm
 Also, according to Newton’s law of gravitation, the force between the object and the Earth is F 
r2
 Thus, we have
GMm
mg 
r2
GM
g  2
r
 Here, M is the mass of the Earth and r is the distance of the object from the centre of the Earth. Since
the object is near the surface of the Earth, r = R, the radius of the Earth.
GM
g 2
R
 If  is density of the material of the Earth, then
4
M = πR3ρ
3
4
G  R3ρ
3 4
g= 2
=g= πGRρ
R 3

Value of g
GM
 Substitute the values of G, M and R in the equation, g  .
R2
 We know that G  6.67  1011 N m2 / kg2 , M  6  1024 kg and R  6.4  106 m .
 Thus, we get

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

GM
g 2 
 
6.67  1011 6  1024 
 9.8 m/s2
R 6.4  10 6

Acceleration due to Gravity Below and Above the Surface of the Earth

Effect of Height
 Consider that the Earth is a sphere of radius RE and mass ME.
 Let g be the value of acceleration due to gravity at Point A on the surface of the Earth.

GME
g= ... (1)
RE 2

 If g is the acceleration due to gravity at the Point B at height h above the surface of the Earth, then
GME
g' = ... (2)
(RE +h)2
 Dividing Equation 2 by 1, we get

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

g' GME RE2

= 
g (RE +h)2 GME
g' RE2
=
g (RE +h)2
g' RE2
= 2
g  h 
RE  1+ 
 RE 
-2
g'  h 
=  1+ 
g  RE 
h
 For << 1, using binomial expression,
RE
g' 2h
=1-
g RE

Effect of Depth

 Consider that the Earth is a sphere of radius RE and mass ME. The value of acceleration due to gravity
at Point A on the surface of the Earth is

 If  is density of the material of the Earth, then

4
ME = πRE3 ρ
3
4
G  RE3 ρ
g= 3
RE2
4
g= π G RE ρ ... (1)
3
 Let g be the acceleration due to gravity at Point B at a depth d below the surface of the Earth.
GM'
g' =
(RE - d)2

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

4
M'E = π(RE - d)3 ρ
3
4
G  (RE - d)3ρ
g' = 3
(RE - d)2
4
g' = π G (RE - d) ρ ... (2)
3
 Dividing Equation 2 by 1, we get,
4
π G (RE - d) ρ  d 
g' R d g'
= 3  E or = g  1- 
g 4 RE g  RE 
π G RE ρ
3
 Thus,
 R 
gcentre = g  1- E   0
 RE 

Kepler's Laws and Satellites

Kepler's First Law (Law of Orbits)

 All planets revolve around the Sun in elliptical orbits with the Sun situated at one of the foci of the
elliptical orbit.

 This law is based on the inverse square law.

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

 In the above figure, the closest point P is called perihelion and the farthest point A is called aphelion.
The mid-point O of the line PA is the centre of the ellipse.
 Length PO = AO is called the semi-major axis of the ellipse.
 For a circle, the two foci of the ellipse merge into one and the semi-major axis becomes the radius of
the circle.

Kepler's Second Law (Law of Areas)

 The line which joins a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time, i.e. the areal
velocity of the planet around the Sun is constant.

 The linear speed of the planet is more when closer to the Sun than when it is away from the Sun.
Area P1 S P2  Area P3 S P4
Since SP1 > SP3; therefore, P1P2 < P3P4
or
P1 P2 P P
< 3 4
t t
 Kepler's second law is based on law of conservation of angular momentum.
mvP rP = mvA rA
v r
or P = A
vA rP

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

Kepler's Third Law (Law of Periods)

 The square of the time period of revolution of a planet around the Sun is directly proportional to the
cube of the semi-major axis of its elliptical orbit.
T2  R3
Here T = time taken by the planet to revolve around the Sun
and R = semi-major axis of the elliptical orbit

Deduction of Kepler's Third Law

 Consider a planet of mass m orbiting around the Sun of mass M in a circular orbit of radius r with
constant angular velocity , then
GMm 4π2  4π2  3
= mr ω 2
= mr or T 2
=  r
r2 T2  GM 
 4π2 
T r
2 3
 GM = constant 
 

Uses of Artificial Satellites

 Artificial satellites are used for predicting the weather and studying solar radiations and meteorites
 For sending telephone, telegraph and television signals at distant places
 For spying during wars
 Orbital satellites: Satellites which always revolve in different orbits around the Earth are known as
orbital satellites.

 Communication satellites: Satellites which remain stationary with respect to the Earth are known as
communication satellites.
 Examples: Insat 1A, 1B, 2A

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Time Period of Satellite

 The time period of a satellite is the time taken by a satellite to complete one revolution round the
Earth.
Circumference of the orbit 2(RE  h)3/2 2 (R  h)3
 Time period T =  
Orbital velocity RE g RE g

Height of Satellite above the Earth's Surface

2 (R  h)3
T=
RE g
Squaring both sides, we get
2 42 (RE  h)3
T =
R2E g
1/ 3
 T 2 RE2 g 
h   RE
 4 
2

Energy of an Orbiting Satellite

 When a satellite revolves around a planet in its orbit, it possesses both kinetic and potential energy.
 Kinetic energy of the satellite in a circular orbit with speed v is
1 GMEm
K gE = mv 2 =
2 2(RE +h)
 Considering gravitational potential energy at infinity to be zero, the potential energy at distance (R E +
h) from the centre of the Earth is
GMEm
PE = -
(RE +h)
 Total energy E is
GMEm
E = KE + PE = -
2(RE +h)
 Thus, the total energy of an orbiting satellite is negative.

Binding Energy of a Satellite

 Energy required to remove the satellite from its orbit around the Earth to infinity is called binding
energy of the satellite.
 This energy is equal to the negative value of total mechanical energy of a satellite in its orbit.
GMEm
Binding energy = -E =
2r

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 PHYSICS GRAVITATION

Geostationary and Polar Satellites

Geostationary/Geosynchronous Satellites
 A satellite which appears at a fixed position at a definite height, i.e. stationary to an observer on the
Earth is called a geostationary satellite.
42 (RE  h)3
T2 =
R2E g
1/ 3
 T 2 RE2 g 
h   RE
 4 
2

T = 24 hours for geostationary satellite

 Geostationary satellites are used for communication as they act as reflectors of suitable waves
carrying messages. They are called communication satellites.

Uses of Polar Satellites

 Polar Satellites are used for recording the information about images of clouds, atmospheric data,
ozone layer in the atmosphere
 To monitor the trend of greenhouse effect
 For various military purposes, i.e. to keep an eye on the movement of ships, troops and vehicles

Weightlessness

 The force with which an object is attracted towards the Earth is the weight of that object.
 When an object is stationary with respect to the Earth, its weight equals gravity. This weight of the
object is known as its static or true weight.
 The apparent loss in weight of an object when it falls freely under gravity is called weightlessness.

Derivation of Gravitational Potential Energy

 The gravitational potential energy associated with two particles of masses m1 and m2 separated by
distance by a distance r is given by
Gm1m2
V=- (if we choose V=0 as r  )
r

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Important Formulae

Newton’s Law of Gravitation Gm1m2

F ,
r2
G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2/kg2

Acceleration dye to Gravity GM 4

g 2
 GR
R 3

Variation of g (a) Altitude (height) effect

2
 h
g’ = g 1  
 R
If h << R then
 2h 
g’ = g 1 
 R 
(b) Effect of depth
 d
g” = 1  
 R

Intensity of Gravitational Field  GM 

Eg  2 (r)
r

For earth Eg  g  9.86 m / s2

Gravitational Potential r  
vg   Eg. dr

For points outside (r >R)
GM
vg  
r
For points inside it, r < R
 3R2  r2 
vg  GM  3 
 2R 

Change in Potential Energy (P. E.) ΔUg = mgh if h << Re

in going to a height h above the
surface mgh
In general ΔUg =
 h
1  R 
 

Orbital Velocity of a Satellite mv20 GMm


r r2
GM
v0  r  h  R
R h

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GM
If h << R v0   gR  8 km / sec.
R

Velocity of Projection Loss of K. E. = gain in P. E.

1 gMm  GMm 
mvp2    
2 R  h  R 
½
½  
 2GMh   2gh 
vP      GM  gR 
2

 R R  h  1  h 
 R

Period of Revolution 3 /2
2r 2 R  h
T 
v0 R g
42r3
Or T2 =
GM
2R3 / 2 1
If h << R T=  1 hr
R g 2

Kinetic Energy of Satellite GMm 1

K.E. =  mv2
2r 2

P.E. of Satellite GMm

U= 
r

Binding energy of Satellite 1 GMm

=
2 r

Escape Velocity 2GM 8Gd

ve =  2gR  R
R 3
ve = v0 2

Effective Weight in a Satellite w=0

Satellite behaves like a freely falling body

Kepler’s Laws for Planetary Motion (a) Elliptical orbit with sun at one focus
(b) Areal velocity constant dA/dt = constant
(c) T2  r3; r = (r1 + r2)/ 2

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