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Experiment 3. Gravitation

1) The document describes an experiment using a PhET simulation to discover Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation. Students recorded data on the force of attraction between two masses for different mass values and distances. 2) Graphs were created showing the relationships between force and mass and force and distance. The force was found to be proportional to one mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the masses. 3) Combining these relationships gives Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, where the gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

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Guillermo Enrique Heras Quintero
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116 views2 pages

Experiment 3. Gravitation

1) The document describes an experiment using a PhET simulation to discover Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation. Students recorded data on the force of attraction between two masses for different mass values and distances. 2) Graphs were created showing the relationships between force and mass and force and distance. The force was found to be proportional to one mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the masses. 3) Combining these relationships gives Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, where the gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Uploaded by

Guillermo Enrique Heras Quintero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiments in Physics

Inquiry Lab – Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation – PhET simulation


Name________________________Score________________

Introduction: An interesting aspect of our universe is that anything that has mass has a gravitational pull. In other
words, masses “attract” other masses by pulling on each other. Isaac Newton realized that the pull created by
masses, known as gravity, applied to all masses including small objects, like apples, and large celestial objects,
like the Moon and the Earth. In 1687 Newton discovered the mathematical relationship that exits between masses.
The relationship that Newton’s discovered is one of the most important relationships in Physics and has helped
humans put satellites into orbit and understand the motion of the planets in the solar system. The purpose of this
lab is to discover the relationship that exists between masses known as Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation.

Instructions:
(1) Find and open the PhET simulation entitled, “Gravity Force Lab”. ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ )
(2) Complete the tables below by changing the various settings. Note: Record the values for force in scientific
notation and to 2 significant figures. Move the meter stick to measure the distance between the center of
mass 1 to the center of mass 2. See the pictures on the right for each table.

What is the relationship between F and r?


Table 1 – Varying r, the distance between the masses
Force = F1 = F2 / N m1 / kg m2 / kg r/m
3.7 x 10-6 500 1000 3
500 1000 4
500 1000 5
500 1000 6
500 1000 7

What is the relationship between F and m1?


Table 2 – Varying the mass of m 1
Force = F1 = F2 / N m1 / kg m2 / kg r/m
1.32 x 10-6 500 1000 5
600 1000 5
700 1000 5
800 1000 5
900 1000 5

What is the relationship between F and m2?


Table 3 – Varying the mass of m 2
Force = F1 = F2 / N m1 / kg m2 / kg r/m
1.32 x 10-6 1000 500 5
1000 600 5
1000 700 5
1000 800 5
1000 900 5
(3) Using your data from tables 1, 2, and 3, create graphs for the relationships of F versus r, F versus m1, and
F versus m2 using a graphing program such as Excel or Logger Pro. In your graphing program determine
the best-fit line or curve for each of the graphs. For the F versus r graph, try the “inverse square” best-fit
curve. What is the correlation for the fit? _____________. Provide a sketch for each of the relationships
below. Make sure to label the axis including units. Do not provide a numbered scale on the x and y-axis.

(4) When a graph is linear and passes through the origin, the relationship between the variables is said to be
proportional. When two quantities are proportional, the quantities differ by the multiplication of a
constant. For example, if F is proportional to m1 then F = (constant)*m1.
(5) Write the two equations that represent the proportional relationships in your sketches from the best-fit
lines in your graphing program. Do not include the y-intercept in the equation. Within experimental
uncertainties, we will assume the intercept is zero.
(1) _____________________________ (2)______________________________
(6) One of the graphs should appear to be an exponential decay curve. Determining the relationship between
the variables is more difficult. One way is to use the equation for the best-fit line given by your graphing
program. Write the equation here for the inverse square curve: ______________________________.
Given the high correlation for the curve fit, F is considered proportional to 1/r2.
(7) Combine the proportionalities into one equation for F. Fill in the blanks below for each of the variables F,
m1, m2, and r. k is a constant.
_____ × _____
_____ = k
_____
(8) The value of the constant k can be determined from one of your proportional graphs. Use F versus m1.
Write the value for the slope of the graph? (look at your equation) ___________________________
(9) Using our new relationship from (7), for your F versus m1 graph. Use the value of the

slope, m2 = 1000kg, r = 5m, and calculate a value for k. Write the value for k: _____________________.
(10) The actual value for k is known as the Universal Gravitational Constant, G. .
(11) Write the complete formula for Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation in the box below. Using the
internet check if your formula is correct.

(12) Using the equation for Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation (a) determine the force of attraction
between the Earth, , and the Moon, , if the average
mean distance between the Earth and the Moon is . (b) If a single Saturn V rocket has a
thrust of , how many Saturn V rockets is the force in (a) equivalent to?

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