4/22/2021

NEWTON’S LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION Cavendish determined the first reasonably accurate numerical
value for G more than one hundred years after Newton’s Law
Newton eventually proved that Kepler’s first two laws imply a was published. To three decimal places, the currently accepted
law of gravitation: Any two objects in the Universe exert an value is: G = 6.67 x10‐11 N.m2/kg2
attractive force on each other ‐called the gravitational force‐
whose strength is proportional to the product of the objects’
masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between them. If we let G be the universal gravitational
constant, then the strength of the gravitational force is given by
the equation:  GmM
FG  Units: Newtons (N)
r2

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/gravity‐force‐lab

1 2

How does changing the mass and radius affect force and
acceleration?

Double Mass:

Half Radius:

Double mass and Radius:

3 4

1
 4/22/2021

5.14 A 50 kg person and a 75 kg person are sitting on a bench so that their 5.15 What is the force of gravity acting on a 2000 kg spacecraft when it orbits
centers are about 50 cm apart. Find the gravitational force that each exerts two Earth radii from the Earth’s center above the Earth’s surface?
on the other.
m1 = 2000 kg
m1 = 50 kg ME = 5.98x1024 kg
m2 = 75 kg rE = 6380x103 (2) =1.276x107 m
r = 0.5 m

Gm1 m2 6.67 x10 11 (2000)(5.98 x10 24 )

F
Gm1m2 6.67 x10 11 (50)(75) F  = 4899 N
 = 1x10‐6 N r2 (1.276 x10 7 ) 2
r2 (0.5) 2

5 6

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

5.16 Find the net force on the Moon due to the gravitational attraction of
both the Earth and the Sun assuming they are at right angles to each other.
We can find the acceleration due to gravity, ag, by setting Newton’s
mM = 7.35x1022 kg 2nd Law = the Law of Gravitation
FEM mS = 1.99 x1030 kg
Gm1 m2
mE = 5.98x1024 kg F 𝐹 𝑚𝑎𝑔 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡
rE,m = 3.84x108 m r2
rS,m = 1.5x1011 m
FSM
so, 𝑎𝑔 = This is the acceleration due to gravity at a
6.67 x10 11 (7.35 x10 22 )(5.98 x10 24 ) distance r from a planet’s center.
FEM  = 1.99x1020 N
(3.84 x10 8 ) 2 • At the Earth’s surface: agE = g = GME ME = 6.0 x 1024 kg
RE 2 RE = 6.4 x 106 m

6.67 x10 11 (7.35 x10 22 )(1.99 x10 30 ) where ME and RE are the mass and radius of the Earth.
FSM  = 4.34 x1020 N
(1.5 x1011 ) 2
• At an altitude h above the Earth’s surface: ag = GME
(RE + h)2

FR  (1.99 x10 20 ) 2  ( 4.34 x10 20 ) = 4.77 x1020 N

7 8

2
 4/22/2021

5.17 a. Derive the expression for g from the Law of Universal Gravitation.
b. Estimate the value of g on top of the Everest (8848 m) above the Earth’s
surface.
Fg = FUG

GmM E mE = 5.98x1024 kg
mg  RE = 6.38x106 m
rE2
RT = 8848 + 6.38x106 = 6.388x106 m
GM
g  2E
rE

g
GM E 6.67 x10 11 (5.98 x10 24 )
2  = 9.77 m/s2
rE (6.388 x10 6 ) 2

9 10

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Calculate the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the moon. The radius
of the moon is 1750 km and the mass of the moon is 7.4 x 1022 kg.

11 12

3
 4/22/2021

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Note: it is just r, not r2, in the

denominator.

13 14

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Gravitational potential energy
U = - Gm1m2
r

Note: U = mgh
only applies to
objects near
the surface of
the earth.
Fig. 7.20, p. 231

On Earth, we are in a negative

gravitational potential energy well.

Work must be done against gravity to

get higher in the well: in other words,
U becomes less negative.

The top of the well is at infinity, where

the gravitational potential energy is
chosen to be zero.

15 16

4
 4/22/2021

Newton’s Law of Gravitation Newton’s Law of Gravitation: Check for Understanding

The hydrogen atom consists of a proton of mass 1.67 x 10-27 kg and an orbiting 1. The gravitational force is
electron of mass 9.11 x 10-31 kg. In one of its orbits, the electron is
5.4 x 10-11 m from the proton and in another orbit, it is 10.6 x 10-11 m from the a. a linear function of distance
proton.
b. an infinite-range force
a) What are the mutual attractive forces when the electron is in these orbits,
respectively? c. applicable only to our solar system

a) If the electron jumps from the large orbit to the small one, what is the change in d. sometimes repulsive
potential energy?

Answer: b

17 18

Newton’s Law of Gravitation: Check for Understanding Newton’s Law of Gravitation: Check for Understanding
2. The acceleration due to gravity on the Earth’s surface 3. Astronauts in a spacecraft orbiting the Earth or out for a “spacewalk” are seen
to “float” in midair. This is sometimes referred to as weightlessness or zero
a. is a universal constant like G gravity (zero g). Are these terms correct? Explain why an astronaut appears
to float in or near an orbiting spacecraft.
b. does not depend on the Earth’s mass

c. is directly proportional to the Earth’s radius

Answer: No. Gravity acts on the astronauts and the spacecraft, providing the
d. does not depend on the object’s mass necessary centripetal force for the orbit, so g is not zero and there is
weight by definition (w=mg). The “floating” occurs because the spacecraft
and astronauts are “falling” (“accelerating” toward Earth at the same rate).

Answer: d

19 20

5
 4/22/2021

KEPLER’S FIRST LAW KEPLER’S SECOND LAW

"Every planet moves in an elliptical orbit with the Sun at one "As a planet moves in its orbit, a line drawn from the Sun to the
focus." planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals."

21 22

KEPLER’S THIRD LAW

"If T is the period and r is the length of the semi‐major axis of a
planet’s orbit, then the ratioT2/r3 is the same for all planets."

T12 r13

T22 r23
As the planet is closest the sun, the planet is moving fastest
and as the planet is farthest from the sun,it is moving
slowest. Nonetheless, the imaginary line adjoining the
center of the planet to the center of the sun sweeps out the
same amount of area in each equal interval of time.

23 24

6
 4/22/2021

5.13 Derive Kepler’s Third Law from Newton’s Law of Gravitation. 5.12 The mean distance from the Earth to the Sun is 1.496x108 km and the
For a Planet 1 of mass m1 and the Sun of mass MS period of its motion about the Sun is one year. The period of Jupiter’s motion
around the Sun is 11.86 years. Determine the mean distance from the Sun to
ΣF = ma = mac 2r1 Jupiter.
v1 
Gm1 M S m v 2 T1 rE = 1.496x108 km TE2 rE3
 1 1 TE = 1 year 
r12 r1 GM S 4 2 r1 TJ2 rJ3
substituting:  TJ = 11.86 years
r12 T12
T12 4 2 1/ 3
rearranging:   T 2r 3  8 3 1/ 3
rJ   J 2E    (11.86) (1.496 x10 )  = 7.77x108 km
2
r13 GM S
T  2 
 E   (1) 
For a Planet 2 of mass m2 and the Sun of mass MS: T22 4 2

r23 GM S
2 3
therefore:  T1  r 
    1 
 T2   r2 

25 26

SATELLITES
A satellite is put into orbit by accelerating it to a sufficiently high
tangential speed with the use of a rocket. Satellites are usually
put into circular (or nearly circular) orbits because they require
the least takeoff speed. At the very high speed a satellite has, it
would quickly fly out into space if it weren’t for the gravitational
force of the Earth pulling it into orbit.
In fact, a satellite is falling
(accelerating toward the Earth),
but its high tangential speed
keeps it from hitting Earth. The
force that gives a satellite its
acceleration is the force of
gravity.

27 28

7
 4/22/2021

Artificial satellites are launched at different

speeds in order to obtain different orbits:
27,000 km/h for a circular orbit;
30,000 km/h for an elliptical orbit and
40,000 km/h for an escape velocity.

29 30

5.18 A geosynchronous satellite is one that stays above the same point on height = r ‐ rE
the equator of the Earth. Determine:
a. The height above the Earth’s surface such a satellite must orbit and
= 4.23x107 ‐ 6.38x106 m
= 3.592x107 m
mE = 5.98x1024 kg
RE = 6.38x106 m FUG = FC
T = 1 day = 86400 s b. The satellite’s speed
Gm S M E m S v 2 2r
 v
T
rE2 r Gm S M E m S v 2

rE2 r
GM E 4 2 r 2 4 2 r
  GMET2 = 4 π2r3
r2 rT 2 T2 v
GM E 6.67 x10 11 (5.98 x10 24 )
r
 = 3070 m/s
4.23x10 7
GM E T 2 6.67 x10 11 (5.98 x10 24 )(86400) 2
r3  
4 2 4 2

r = 4.23x107 m from the Earth’s center

31 32

8
 4/22/2021

Circular Orbits
Consider a mass m in circular orbit a radius r from the center of
Satellites
a mass M, where M >> m. Determine an expression for  for
such an orbit.

The gravitational force provides the centripetal force:

GmM
m 2 r 
r2
GM
2  3
r
GM

r3

33 34

Satellites
Check for Understanding
A Space Shuttle orbits Earth 300 km above the surface. Why can’t the Shuttle
orbit 10 km above Earth?

a) The Space Shuttle cannot go fast enough to maintain such an orbit.

b) Because r appears in the denominator of Newton’s law of gravitation,

the force of gravity is much larger closer to the Earth; this force is too
strong to allow such an orbit.

c) The closer orbit would likely crash into a large mountain such as
Everest because of its elliptical nature.
Note: a geosynchronous satellite orbits the earth with a period of 24 hours so d) Much of the Shuttle’s kinetic energy would be dissipated as heat in
its motion is synchronized with the earth’s rotation. Viewed by an observer the atmosphere, degrading the orbit.
on earth, a geosynchronous satellite appears to be stationary.

All geosynchronous satellites with circular orbits have the same orbital radius
(36,000 km above sea level for Earth).

35 36

9
 4/22/2021

7.6 Satellites
Check for Understanding
Check for Understanding

Answer: d. A circular orbit is allowed at any distance from a planet, as long as

the satellite moves fast enough. At 300 km above the surface Earth’s atmosphere
is practically nonexistent. At 10 km, though, the atmospheric friction would quickly
cause the shuttle to slow down.

37 38

7.6 Check for Understanding

7.6 Satellites
Check for Understanding

The period of a satellite is given by the formula: T2 = K r3. This means a specific
period maps onto a specific orbital radius. Therefore, there is only one orbital
radius for a geosynchronous satellite with a circular orbit.

39 40

10
 4/22/2021

7.6 Check for Understanding

An asteroid has a semi‐major axis of 4AU. How
long does it take the asteroid to go around the
Sun?
(a) 2 years
(b) 4 years
(c) 6 years
(d) 8 years

41 42

43 44

11
 NATIONAL
MATH + SCIENCE Science
INITIATIVE

F3. (12 points)

(a-i) 2 points
GmM mv 2
(1) The student sets up the orbital motion equation = and cancels out the mass m.
r2 r

GM
(2) The student solves to obtain v =
R

(a-ii) 2 points

GmM
(3) The student plugs the speed obtained in (a)-i into K = 12 mv 2 to obtain K = .
2R

GmM GmM
(4) The student uses Etotal = K + U and U = − to obtain Etotal = − .
R 2R

(a-iii) 2 points

(5) The student uses L = Iω with I = mR 2 and ω = v / R to get L = mvR .

GM
(6) The student plugs in the speed obtained in (a)-i to get L = mR or L = Gm 2 MR .
R

(b-i) 2 points

The speed of the gas cloud increases because:

(7) The expression for v in part (a)-i has M (the star’s mass) in the numerator, making the speed
increase with increased M.

(8) The speed does not depend on the mass of the gas cloud.

(b-ii) 2 points

The system has more total mechanical energy after the accretion because:

(9) Based on the answer to (a)-ii, the total energy depends on the product mM. If the gas cloud gives
half of its mass to the star, the m is halved and M increases slightly, making the product mM a
lesser number.

(10) The total energy is negative, and after the accretion event E is a smaller negative (because mM is a
smaller number). If total energy is a smaller negative, then total energy must have increased.
Copyright © 2016 National Math + Science Initiative, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. Visit us online at www.nms.org 5
 NATIONAL
MATH + SCIENCE Science
INITIATIVE

(b-iii) 2 points

The star now rotates counterclockwise because:

(11) The orbital angular momentum of the gas cloud decreased (this is because the product m2M, which
appears in the equation found in (a)-iii, decreases if m is halved and M increases slightly).

(12) If the gas cloud loses counterclockwise angular momentum, then the star must pick up that
counterclockwise angular momentum since the forces during the accretion event were internal to
the system (or “because of conservation of angular momentum”).