Scribd
Upload
607 views2 pages

Modeling Gravity Key

The document summarizes an experiment to determine the force of gravity between two objects. [1] Key findings include: the force decreases as the distance or mass of one object increases, and increases as the mass of the other object increases. [2] A proportional relationship is derived showing that the force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. [3] Repeating the experiment with varying masses and distances, the students determine the gravitational constant G that satisfies this relationship.

Uploaded by

Grant Brown
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
607 views2 pages

Modeling Gravity Key

The document summarizes an experiment to determine the force of gravity between two objects. [1] Key findings include: the force decreases as the distance or mass of one object increases, and increases as the mass of the other object increases. [2] A proportional relationship is derived showing that the force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. [3] Repeating the experiment with varying masses and distances, the students determine the gravitational constant G that satisfies this relationship.

Uploaded by

Grant Brown
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Determination of the Force of Gravity

Go to http://tinyurl.com/ma8rw9x

Qualitative Observations
1. How does the changing the separation of the objects
affect the force between them? (increases, decreases,
not affected)

Increased distance  decreases the force between the


objects

2. What happens to the force between the objects when


mass 1 increases? (increases, decreases, not affected)

Increases

3. What happens to the force between the objects if Mass 2 decreases? (increases, decreases, not
affected) decreases

4. What is the ratio of the force on the blue object to the force on the red object? What if the mass of
the blue one is twice as big as the red object? Explain.

FB 1
=
FR 1

5. What direction are the gravitational forces acting on the objects?


Always toward each other (Attreractive)

Quantitative

It is now time to build a model.

1. What THREE things can we change/vary?


Mass 1, Mass 2, distance (separation)

2. Select an independent and dependent variable and constant

a. DV ___Force________________________

b. IV ____Mass 1______________________

c. C ____ Mass 2 and Distance___________

3. Collect 10 data points and graph

4. Select a new independent and dependent variable and constant

a. DV ___Force________________________

b. IV ___Distance________________________

c. C ____Mass 1 and Mass 2_______________


5. Collect 10 data points and graph

6. Repeat the varying mass vs. force experiment, changing the second mass.
Questions
1. Explain why varying the second mass had the same effect on the force as varying the first mass.
The Force is proportional to the masses of the objects. When either mass is changed, the force
changes proportionally.

2. What is the relationship (proportionality) between Mass and force? What happens to the force if
you double the mass of the blue object? What happens to the force if you then triple the red
object’s masses?

Force proportional to the mass of the object F ∝ M 1


Double mass  doubles force
THEN triple red  triples force, so net change is 6 times greater

3. What is the relationship between distance and the force of gravity? What happens if you triple the
distance between the objects? Half the distance between them?

1
Force is inversely related to the square of the distance F ∝
d2
Triple distance  Force decreases by 9
Half distance  4 time greater force

4. Combine your proportions between Mass 1 (m1), Mass 2 (m2) distance (r) into a single proportion
to the Force of gravity (Fg).

1
F ∝ M 1 × M2×
d2
M1 M2
F∝
d2

Show your instructor your proportionality before you continue.


5. Does your lab data for m1, m2, and r does equal Fg? Also work out your units, do they equal a unit
of force?

The values do not match. Neither do the units

M1 M 2
6. Make a graph of Force vs. your proportionality. Make a graph of F vs . Should get a straight
d2
line which the slope represents G

7. Determine the gravitational constant (G) that will satisfy your units

G=____≈6.67 x 10-11_Nm2/kg2____________________

8. Write your full formula and check with your instructor.


M1M2
F=G
d2

You might also like