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THEME: NEWTONIAN MECHANICS

CHAPTER 3: GRAVITATION
Standard content Learning standards
3.1 Newton’s Universal Law of 1. Explain Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation.
Gravitation 2. Solve problems involving Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation for:
i. two static objects on the Earth
ii. objects on the Earth’s surface
iii. Earth and satellites
iv. Earth and Sun
3. Relate gravitational acceleration, g on the surface of the Earth with the universal
gravitational constant, G
4. Justify the importance of knowing the values of gravitational acceleration of the
planets in the Solar System.
5. Describe the centripetal force in the motion of satellites and planets system.
6. Determine the mass of the Earth and the Sun using Newton’s universal law of
gravitation and centripetal force.
3.2 Kepler’s Law 1. Explain Kepler’s Laws.
2. Express Kepler’s Third Law
3. Solve problems using Kepler’s Third Law
3.3 Man Made Satellite 1. Describe how an orbit of a satellite is maintained at a specific height by setting
the necessary satellite’s velocity.
2. Communicate on geostationary and non-geostationary satellites.
3. Conceptualize escape velocity
4. Solve problems involving the escape velocity for a rocket from the Earth’s surface,
the Moon’s surface, Mars’ surface and the Sun’s surface.

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3.1 Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation

Gravitational force as universal force
- acts between any two bodies in the universe
- both bodies experience same magnitude of gravitational force

F = gravitational force
between two bodies
m1 = mass of first body
m2 = mass of second body
r = distance between the
centre of first and second
body
G = gravitational constant
Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation: (6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2)
Gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of masses of two bodies
and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the centers of the
two bodies.

Exercise

Given that mass a bowling ball is 10 kg and mass

of Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg. Distance between the
center of Earth and the ball is 6.37 x 106 m.
Calculate the gravitational force between the ball
and Earth.

Given that the mass of Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg. The

distance between the center of a car and the
center of Earth is 6.37 x 106 m. If the gravitational
force experienced between car and Earth is 7000
N, calculate the mass of the car.

Given that planet A has a mass of 6 x 1015 kg and

planet B has a mass of 3.5 x 1020 kg. If the
gravitational force between the two planets is
5500 N, calculate the distance between their
centers.

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Mass vs gravitational force Distance vs gravitational force

The larger the mass of the body, the larger the gravitational The further the distance between the bodies, the smaller
force. the gravitational force.

When mass of first body is m1, mass of second body is m2 and distance between the two bodies is r, gravitaional force is F.
In relation to F, what is the force when;
a. mass of first body is b. mass of second body is c. distance is tripled? d. distance is quarter from
doubled? halved? the original?

Relating g and G Relating g and and r

On surface of a planet,
gravitational force is equal to
weight.

R = radius of Earth

When r < R, g is directly proportional to r.

When r ≥ R, g is inversely proportional to r2.

r<R r=R r≥R

𝐺𝑀 1
𝑔 ∝𝑟 𝑔= 𝑔 ∝
𝑟2 𝑟2

Deriving formulas to calculate the gravitational acceleration at different distance relative to Earth’s surface
Below the surface On the surface At a height

𝐺𝑀 𝐺𝑀 𝐺𝑀
𝑔= 𝑔= 𝑔=
(𝑅 − ℎ)2 𝑅2 (𝑅 + ℎ)2

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Exercise
Mass of Planet M is 3.17 x 1027 kg and
its radius is 4.37 x 107 m. If there is an
object with mass 5 kg on the surface
of Planet M, calculate;

a. gravitational acceleration
b. weight of object

(G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2)

A satellite is orbiting the Earth at a

height of 500 km from the surface.
Calculate the gravitational
acceleration at the position of the
satellite.
(G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2, M = 5.97 x
1024 kg, R = 6.37 x 106 m)

Prove that the gravitational

acceleration on the surface of the
1
moon is from the gravitational
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acceleration on the surface of the
earth.
(G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2, mass of the
moon = 7.34767309 × 1022 kg, radius
of moon = 1.74 x 106 m)

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Centripetal Force in the Motions of Satellites and Planets

 In the absence of force, object will move in straight line and constant velocity.
 0 N force  object move in the same direction.
 In an orbit, object is always changing its direction.
 There is force acting on the object in direction towards the center of the circle (orbit)  centripetal force.

F = centripetal force
m = mass
v = linear speed
r = radius of circle

Centripetal Force Kit

Exercise
In an experiment using centripetal force kit, a rubber stopper rotates in a
circle with a speed of 3ms-1. Radius of the circle is 0.8m when the mass of
slotted weight is 100g. What is the mass of rubber stopper?

Ali whirls a 130g stone with a 1.5m string. If the speed of the stone is
3ms-1, what is the tension of the string?

F = Tension in string (weight)

m = mass of rubber stopper
v = linear speed of rubber stopper
r = radius of circle

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Satellite orbiting the Earth

Trajectory ①: When the linear speed is low
Trajectory ②: When linear speed is high enough, the
object will circulate the earth but not
return
Centripetal acceleration from centripetal force

a = centripetal acceleration
v = linear speed

r = radius of orbit

Exercise
A hammer throw athlete swings an iron ball with mass
of 7.2kg. The speed of the iron ball is 20ms-1. Calculate
the length of the rope if the centripetal force acting on
the ball is 1600N.
A satellite orbits the Earth at the height of 480km. If the
centripetal acceleration of the satellite is 8.48ms-2,
what is the linear speed of the satellite?
(R = 6.37 x 106 m)

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Mass of Earth and Sun

M = mass of B (body at center)

r = radius of orbit
G = gravitational constant
(6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2)
T = period of revolution
(time taken by A to orbit B)

Exercise
Diagram shows Earth orbiting the Sun. Earth takes Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the Sun
approximately 365.25 days to orbit the Sun completely. completely. Radius of the orbit is 1.5 x 1011m. What is the
Calculate the mass of the Sun. speed of Earth around the Sun?

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3.2 Kepler’s Laws

① ② ③
Law of Orbits Law of Areas Law of Periods

Kepler’s First Law: All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.

 Elliptical shaped orbit (“squished circle”)

 Ellipses has two foci
 Sun is always at one of the focus
 Major axis is longer than minor axis but usually almost the
same for Solar System
 Radius of orbit: average value of the distance between
planet and Sun

Kepler’s Second Law: A line that connects a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

 Area of region 1 = area of region 2

 Time taken from A to B = C to D
 Since AB covers more distance compared to CD within the
same time span, AB is faster than CD

Kepler’s Third Law: The square of the orbital period of any planet is directly proportional to the cube of the radius of its
orbit.
 If applied to planets and Sun, M is mass of the Sun
 If applied to satellites and the Earth, M is the mass of Earth
Exercise

If the orbital period of Earth is 1 year, how

long does it take for Mars to orbit the
Sun?

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3.3 Man-made Satellites

 If the linear speed of satellite,v is less than required speed, satellite will fall to a
lower orbit
 Satellite will revolve towards Earth until it enters atmosphere
 High speed movement against air resistance will produce heat, satellite burns
Exercise
International Space Station (ISS) is 408 km away from the surface of Earth. What is
its speed? (G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2, M = 5.97 x 1024 kg, R = 6.37 x 106 m)

Geostationary satellite Non-geostationary satellite

Orbits the Earth

Direction of motion doesn’t have to be the same as the

Direction of motion same as the direction of Earth rotation
direction of Earth rotation

T = 24 hours T can be longer or shorter than 24 hours

Above the same geographical location Above different geographical location
Function: communication satellite Function: Earth imaging, GPS, weather forecast
Example: MEASAT Example: TiungSAT, RazakSAT, Pipit, ISS

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Escape velocity:
Earth’s escape velocity:
Escape velocity
The minimum velocity needed by an object on the surface of the Earth to overcome gravitational
force and escape to outer space
11200 ms-1 / 40300 kmh-1
Escape velocity can be achieved when
minimum kinetic energy of an object is
able to overcome its gravitational
potential energy.

Benefits and Implications of Escape Velocity

1. Earth is able to maintain a layer of atmosphere around it
 molecules in atmosphere has velocity (500ms-1) lower than Earth’s escape velocity
 unable to escape to outer space

2. Planes and jets won’t escape to outer space

 both have speeds lower than Earth’s escape velocity

3. Rockets need to be launched into outer space

 uses a lot of fuels to produce large thrust
 produce high velocity that is larger than Earth’s escape velocity

Exercise
Based on the information
given, calculate the escape
velocity of Earth, Sun and
Moon.
R (m) M (kg)

Earth 6.4 x 106 6.0 x 1024

Sun 7.0 x 108 2.0 x 1030

Moon 1.7 x 106 7.4 x 1022

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List of useful formulas and constant

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