G = gravitational constant

= 6.67 x 10-11 N·m2/kg2

r = distance between m1 and m2

On or near the surface of the Earth, the

force of gravity on an object due to the
Objects attract other objects simply because Earth’s mass is just
because they possess mass. This is referred
to as gravitation. ⃗ =W
F g
⃗
m1 F g =mg
m2

 ⃗ 12
F

r
⃗ 21
F
 For locations far above the surface of the
Earth,

The magnitude of the force of gravity M Earth=5.98×1024 kg

6
between two objects is given by R Earth=6.37×10 m → r > R Earth

m1 m2 M Earth m
F g = F 12 =F 21 =G 2 F g =G 2
r r
page 1 of 4
But what about locations inside the Earth? density=constant
total mass inside mass
density= =
If we assume the Earth to be a sphere of total volume inside volume
M Earth minside
uniform mass, we can make use of ρ= =
Newton’s shell theorem which states that a 4 4
π R3Earth π r 3inside
uniform shell of matter exert no net 3 3
M Earth 3
gravitational force on a particle located minside =( 3 )r inside
inside it. R Earth
3
m inside m M Earth r inside m
F g =G 2 =G 3 2
rinside R Earth r inside

G M Earth m
F g= 3
r inside
R Earth
r

page 2 of 4
 ⃗ netx =−1.0005×10−6 N
F

m1 m2
⃗ nety =F 12+0=G
F
The figure shows an arrangement of 3 particles, a
2
particle 1 of mass m1 = 6.0 kg and particles 2 and 3 of
mass m2 = m3 = 4.0 kg and distance a = 2.0 cm. What ⃗ nety =6.67×10−11 (6.0)(4.0)
F 2
is the net gravitational force on particle 1 due to the (0.02)
other particles? ⃗ nety =4.002×10−6 N
F
m2
⃗ nety F net = √ F netx + F nety
2 2
a F
m3 ⃗ net
F F net =4.125167178×10−6 N
m1 ⃗ netx 
F |F nety|
2a tan θ =
|F netx|
m1 =6.0 kg m2 =m 3 =4.0 kg θ =75.96375653o
⃗ 12 a=2.0 cm=0.02 m
F ⃗ net =4.125×10−6 N , 75.964º above -x
F
⃗ net =0= F
F ⃗ 12 + F
⃗ 13
⃗ 13
F m1 m 3
⃗ netx =0−F 13=−G
F 2
4a
⃗ netx =−6.67×10−11 (6.0)(4.0)
F 2
4(0.02)

page 3 of 4
 (6.67×10−11 )(5.98×1024 )
da=−2 6 3
(1.7)
(6.77×10 )
da=−4.370588603×10−6 m/ s 2
An astronaut whose height is 1.7 m floats “feet down”
in an orbiting shuttle at a distance r = 6.77 x 106 m −6 2
away from the center of the Earth. What is the da=−4.371×10 m/ s
difference between the gravitational acceleration at her
feet and at her head?

6 24
r =6.77×10 m M Earth=5.98×10 kg
The weight of an object on the surface of the Earth is
M earth m G M Earth 98.0 N. What is the weight of the object on a planet
F g =G 2 =ma → a= 2 that has twice the mass of Earth and four times the
R R
radius of the Earth?
Since r >> 1.7m,
R foot =r≈r +1.7 m=R head → a foot ≈a head
M Earth m
→ Δ a=0 F Earth=98.0 N =G 2
R Earth
But is we get da, dR = 1.7 m. 2 M Earth m 1 M Earth m
F planet =G 2 = (G 2 )
16 R Earth 8 R Earth
da G M Earth G M Earth
=−2 3
→ da=−2 3 dR
dR R R F planet =12.25 N

page 4 of 4