KOLEJ MATRIKULASI SELANGOR SOLUTION

CH7: GRAVITATION

Gravitation
Newtons Law Gravitational Gravitational
Satellite motion
of gravitation field strength potential =

7.1 Gravitational Force & Field Strength 2 = 2
( )2
(a) State and use the Newtons law of gravitation, 2

Mm =
F=G ( )2 2
r2 2 6.0 1024
=
(3.84 108 )2 2(7.35 1022 )
= 3.32 108

Example 7.3: Two

spheres of masses
3.2 kg and 2.5 kg
Newtons Law of gravitation, Fg respectively are
a magnitude of an attractive force between fixed at points A
two point masses is directly proportional to and B as shown in
the product of their masses and inversely Figure 7.3. If a 50 g sphere is placed at point C.
proportional to the square of the distance Determine
between them
(a) the resultant force acting on it.
the magnitude of the spheres acceleration.
1 2 1 2
2
= SOLUTION
2
G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-1

Fg varies with r sin = 0.6

cos = 0.8

(a)
(6.67 1011 )3.2(50 103 )
= =
2 (10 102 )2
= 1.07 109
Example 7.1: What must the separation be
(6.67 1011 )2.5(50 103 )
between a 5.2 kg particle and a 2.4 kg particle for = =
their gravitational attraction to have a magnitude 2 (6 102 )2
of 2.3 x 1012 N? = 2.32 109
x-comp: = + = 8.56 1010
SOLUTION
1 2 y-comp: = + = 6.42 1010 2.32
= 109 = 2.96 109
2
(5.2)(5.4)
2.3 1012 = 6.67 1011 = 2 + 2 = 3.08 109
2
8.32 10 10
2 = tan = , = 73.9
2.3 1012
r = 19.02 m

Example 7.2: A spaceship of mass 9 000 kg travels

from the Earth to the Moon along a line that passes (b)
through the Earths centre and the Moons centre. =
The average distance separating Earth and the 3.08 109 = 50 103
Moon is 384 000 km. Determine the distance of the 3.08 109
spaceship from the Earth at which the gravitational = = 6.16 108 2
50 103
force due to the Earth twice the magnitude of the
gravitational force due to the Moon.
(b) Define gravitational field strength as Example 7.4: Determine the Earths gravitational
F field strength
gravitational force per unit mass, ag (a) on the surface
m
(b) at an altitude of 350 km
Gravitational field strength SOLUTION
Gravitational force per unit mass of a body (a)
= 2
(test mass) placed at a point [It is also known
as gravitational acceleration (the free-fall (6.67 1011 )(6.0 1024 )
=
acceleration)] (6.4 106 )2
= 9.77 1
= Towards the centre of the

Earth
(c) Derive & use gravitational field strength,
M (b)
ag G = 2
=
r2 ( + )2
(6.67 1011 )(6.0 1024 )
=
= , = 2 (6.75 106 )2
= 8.78 1
1
= ( 2 ) = 2 Towards the centre of the
Earth

(d) Sketch a graph of ag against r and explain the

change in ag with altitude and depth from the
surface of the earth. Example 7.5: The gravitational field strength on the
(i) Outside the Earth ( r > R)
Earths surface is 9.81 N kg1. Calculate
(a) the gravitational field strength at a point C at
distance 1.5R from the Earths surface where R
is the radius of the Earth
(b) the weight of a rock of mass 2.5 kg at point C.
SOLUTION
1
= , 2 (a)
2 1 1
(ii) On the Earth (r = R) = = ( )= (9.81)
(2.5 )2 625 2 625
1
= 1.57
Towards the centre of the Earth
(b)
= = 2.5(1.57) = 3.93

= , = 9.81 1
2
(iii) Inside the Earth (r < R)

= ,
3
(iv)
 Example 7.6: Figure 7.10 shows an object A at a
distance of 5 km from the object B. The mass A is
four times of the mass B. Determine the location of
a point on the line joining both objects from B at
which the nett gravitational field strength is zero.
7.2 Gravitational Potential
(a) Define gravitational potential in a
gravitational field
Gravitational Potential, V
Gravitational potential, V - the work done by
an external force in bringing a test mass from
infinity to a point per unit the test mass
=

M
SOLUTION (b) Derive & use the equation, V = G
r
1 1
= ( 2 2 ) , 1 = , =
1 2

=

=0
(c) Sketch the
1 = 2 variation of
gravitational
= 2
( )2 potential, V
4 with
=
(5.0 103 )2 2 distance
= 1.67 103 from the
surface of
EXERCISE 7.1 the earth.
1. Four identical masses of 800 kg each are
placed at the corners of a square whose side Example 7.7: Determine the gravitational potential
length is 10.0 cm. Determine the nett at height 8.0 x 106 m above the surface of the
gravitational force on one of the masses, due Earth.
to the other three. SOLUTION
ANS: 8.2103 N; 45
2. Three 5.0 kg =

spheres are (6.67 1011 )(6.0 1024 )
=
located in the 8 106 + 6.4 106
xy plane as = 2.78 107 1
shown in
Figure Example 7.8: Determine the gravitational potential
7.6.Calculate at a point 5000 km above the surface of the Moon.
the magnitude Mass of the Moon = 7.32 x 1022 kg ;
of the nett Radius of Moon = 1740 km
gravitational force on the sphere at the
SOLUTION
origin due to the other two spheres.
(6.67 1011 )(7.32 1022 )
ANS: 2.1108 N = =
3. In Figure 7.7, four (5 + 1.7) 106
spheres form the = 7.2 105 1
corners of a square
whose side is 2.0
cm long. Calculate
the magnitude and
direction of the
nett gravitational
force on a central
sphere with mass ANS: 1.68102 N; 45
of m5 = 250 kg.
 Example 7.9: When in orbit, a satellite attracts the 7.3 Satellite motion in a circular orbit
Earth with a force of 19 kN and the satellites Derive & use equation for satellite motion:
gravitational potential due to the Earth is 5.45 GM
107 J kg1. (i) velocity, v .
(a) Calculate the satellites distance from the r
Earths surface. r3
(b) Determine the satellites mass. (ii) period, T 2 .
SOLUTION
GM
(a)
= Tangential velocity, v:

5.45 107 Fg = Fc = mac
(6.67 1011 )(5.98 1024 ) 2
= 2 =

= 7.32 106

Therefore the satellites =
distance from the Earths
surface is For satellite close to Earth
, =
(b) 3
1 2 = 2
=
2
(5.98 1024 )
19 103 = 6.67 1011
(7.32 106 )2
= 2552 Example 7.11: A satellite travels at a height from
the center of the Earth twice the radius of the
Example 7.10: The gravitational potential at the Earth. Determine the period of revolution of the
surface of a planet of radius R is 12.8 MJ kg1. satellite.
Determine the work done in overcoming the SOLUTION
gravitational force when a space probe of mass
3 (2)3
1000 kg is lifted to a height of 2R from the surface = 2 = 2
of the planet.
SOLUTION [2(6.4 106 )]3
= 2
(6.67 1011 )(6.0 1024 )
= 14.39 103 = 40

Example 7.12: The satellite is orbiting the Earth

with a radius r of 6 610 km at a speed v of 7 780 m
On the surface of the planet, the gravitational s1. Then the satellite is boosted into higher orbit of
potential is radius 6890 km. Show that the speed of the
satellite in the new orbit is 7 620 m s1.
=
SOLUTION
6
Satellite at 6610 km
12.8 10 =


= 12.8 10 6 =

The final distance of the space probe from the centre
of the Earth is: r2 = R + h = 3R
7780 = = (1)
The work done required is given by 6610 103
1 1 1 1 2
= ( ) = ( ) = ( ) Satellite boosted into higher orbit of 6890 km
1 2 3 3 Speed of satellite in new orbit,
2(1000)
= (12.8 106 )
3 = = (2)
= 8.53 109 6890 103
(2) (1), = 7620 1
 Example 7.13: The period of the Moon round the
Earth is 27.3 days. The average radius of the Earth
is 6.37 x 106 m. The gravitational field strength on
the surface of the Earth is 9.8 Nkg-1. Determine the
average distance between the Moon and the Earth
SOLUTION
2 27.3 24 3600 2
( ) =( ) = 1.41 1011 2
2 2
2
, 3 = ( ) (1)
2

, = 2 , = 2 (2)

(2) (1)
2
3 = 2 ( ) = 9.81(6.37 106 )2 1.41 1011
2
= 56.07 1024
= 3.8 108

EXERCISE 7.2
Radius of the Earth , R = 6.38 106 m
1. A satellite revolves round the Earth in a
circular orbit whose radius is five times that
of the radius of the Earth. The gravitational
field strength at the surface of the Earth is
9.81 N kg1. Determine
(a) the tangential speed of the satellite in the
orbit,
(b) the angular frequency of the satellite.
ANS: 3538 m s1 ; 1.11104 rad s1

2. A geostationary satellite of mass 2400 kg

is placed 35.92 Mm from the Earths surface
orbits the Earth along a circular path.
Determine
(a) the angular velocity of the satellite,
(b) the tangential speed of the satellite,
(c) the acceleration of the satellite,
(d) the force of attraction between the Earth and
the satellite,
(e) the mass of the Earth.
ANS: 7.27105 rad s1; 3.08103 m s1; 0.224
m s2; 537 N ; 6.001024 k