GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

A field of force is a region when a particle experiences a force

Gravitational field
A gravitational field is a region where any mass experiences a gravitational force.
The diagram represents the Earth’s gravitational field.

The lines show the direction of the force that acts on a mass
that is within the field. Such lines are called field lines or
lines of force

A line of force in a gravitational field is the direction of the

force exerted on a small test mass.
The diagram shows that

(i) Gravitational forces are always attractive

(ii) The earth’s gravitational field is radial.

Newton’s law of gravitation

Two point masses attract each other with a force that is proportional to the product of
their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their separation .

Note :- (i)The law applies to point masses.

For point outside a sphere whose mass is

uniformly distributed , the sphere behaves as a
point mass with its mass concentrated at its
centre.

The gravitational field strength, g

The gravitational field strength at a point is defined as the force per unit mass acting on
small mass placed at that point
F
g 
m

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Note :-
(i) In a uniform gravitational field( field lines are parallel ) , field strength is the same
at all points within it.
(ii) The gravitiaional field lines become less concentrated with increasing distance
from the earth.
Near the surface of the earth , the lines are approximately
Parallel , g is taken as constant near the surface of the earth

Relationship between G and g

GMm
Force on mass m = F  2
r
F GM
From definition of gravitational field strength g   2
m r

Note :-

(i) The same symbol , g, is used to represent gravitational field strength and free fall
acceleration.
Gravitational field strength g, is defined as force per unit mass, g = F/m.
From Newton second law of acceleration is also the gravitational force per unit mass.
(ii)The value of g on the surface of the Earth is not constant. This is because
 Radius of earth varies
 Density of earth not constant.
 The Earth is spinning

Gravitational potential and potential energy .

The gravitational potential at a point is the work done in moving unit mass from infinity
to that point.

Note :-
(i) Φ is negative. This is because
– gravitational potential at infinity is defined as zero
– gravitational force is attractive ,work got done as object moves from infinity
(ii) Φ is measured in J/kg and it is a scalar quantity
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The potential energy U of a body at a point in a gravitational field is the work done in
moving that mass from infinity to that point./’

Note :-

(i) The equation Potential energy = mgh can still be used if g is taken as cst for
example when moving through a small height

Relationship between F & U and g & Ф

Earth satellites. – Analysing circular orbits

Most planets in the solar system have circular orbits. Satellites also have circular orbits
around the earth.
When an object moves in its orbit, its direction changes continuously and it is therefore
not in equilibrium. The gravitational force provides the accelerating force – the
centripetal force.

For circular motion :

Gravitational force provides centripetal force

Equating the above

(i) The speed at which a satellite must travel to stay in a circular orbit can be
calculated .( taking v as subject of formula)

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 (ii) The orbital period,( time taken for one orbit ) can be found

Satellites in geostationary orbits

If a satellite moves at the same speed of rotation as the earth ,it will be always at a
particular place above the surface of the earth.
The satellite is then described as geostationary ( has a parking orbit ) .

Satellites which are in geostationary orbits around the Earth

(i) have same angular speed / has a period of 24 hours
(ii) have the same direction of rotation of the earth /west to east
(iii) are in an equatorial orbit /must be directly above the equator ( Force must be
directed to the centre of earth .Circular orbit must have its centre at the centre
of the earth ).

Geostationary satellites are used in

(i) Meteorology
(ii) Communication
- signal relays for terrestrial broadcast and cable systems
- direct broadcast satellite TV

GPS satellites.

Global positioning system ( GPS) is a navigation system that can be used anywhere on
the Earth. It uses a number of satellites that orbit the Earth.

The GPS satellites are not in equatorial orbits so that they can cover at poles too.

Escape velocity
The escape velocity is the speed a mass needs at the surface of a planet so that is has
just sufficient K.E to escape completely from gravitational field of a planet

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Q.1. A space capsule is travelling between the earth and the moon . Find the distance
from the earth at which it is subject to zero gravitational force . ( ME = 6.0 x 10 24 kg , Mm
= 7.4 x 10 22 , distance between moon and earth = 3.8 x 10 8 m )

Q.2. The mass of the earth is 81 times that of the moon and the distance from the
centre of the earth to that of the moon is about 4.0n x 10 8 m. Calculate the distance
from the centre of the earth where the resultant gravitational force becomes zero when
a spacecraft is launched from the earth to the moon .

Q.3. What is the gravitational potential at a point on the earth’s surface ? ( ME = 6.0 x
1024 kg ,
RE = 6.4x 10 11 m )

Q.4. The diagram shows two points X and Y at a distance L and 2 L from the centre of
the earth. The gravitational potential at X is – 8 kJ/kg.

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Q.5. X and Y are two points at respective distances R and 2R from the centre of the
earth, where R is greater than the radius of the earth. The gravitational potential at X is
– 800 kJ/kg. Calculate the work done when a 1 kg mass is taken from X to Y.

Q.6. A satellite is put into an orbit so that is appears stationary to an observer on the
earth. Find (i) its orbiting speed (ii) radius of its of its orbit. ( G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2kg-2 ,
ME = 6.0 x 10 24 kg )

Q.7. The escape speed of an oxygen molecule at the earths’ surface is 1.1 x 10 4 m/s.
What is the escape speed at a height of 0.2 RE above the earth surf

GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
Gravitational field
A gravitational field is a region where any mass experiences a gravitational force.
The diagram represents the Earth’s gravitational field. The lines show the direction of
the force that acts on a mass that is within the field. Such lines are called field lines or
lines of force

The diagram shows that

(i) Gravitational forces are always attractive

(ii) The earth’s gravitational field is radial. The field

lines become less concentrated with increasing
distance from the earth.

The gravitational field strength, g

The gravitational field strength at any point in a gravitational field is the force per unit
mass at that point.
F
g 
m

Note :- In a uniform gravitational field , field strength is that same at all points within it.

Newton’s law of gravitation

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The mutual gravitational force between two point masses m1 and m2 is directly
proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of
their central separation .

Note :- The law applies to point masses. For extended masses, the separation must be
much greater than the dimensions of the masses.

Relationship between G and g

GMm
Force on mass m = F  2
r
F GM
From definition of gravitational field strength g   2
m r
Note :-
(i) The same symbol , g, is used to represent gravitational field strength and free fall
acceleration.
Gravitational field strength g, is defined as force per unit mass, g = F/m.
From Newton second law of acceleration is also the gravitational force per unit mass.
(ii)The value of g on the surface of the Earth is not constant. This is because
 The earth is not perfectly spherical .
 The earth does not have a uniform density.

Gravitational potential and potential energy .

The gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field is the work done in taking unit
mass from infinity to that point.

The potential energy U of a body at a point in a gravitational field is the work done in
moving that body from infinity to that point.

Note :-
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 (iii) Φ is negative.
This is because – potential at infinity is zero
– gravitational force is attractive , so work is done as object
moves from infinity
(iv) Φ is measured in J/kg
(v) Φ is a scalar quantity.

Relationship between F & U and g & Ф

Satellites in geostationary orbits

If a satellite moves at the same speed of rotation as the earth ,it will be always at a
particular place above the surface of the earth.
The satellite is then described as geostationary ( has a parking orbit ) .

Satellites which are in geostationary orbits around the Earth

(iv) have same angular velocity
(v) have same orbital period ( T = 24 hours)
(vi) have only one possible radius of orbit
(vii) must be directly above the equator ( Force must be directed to the centre of
earth .Circular orbit must have its centre at the centre of the earth ).

Geostationary satellites are used in

(iii) Meteorology
(iv) Communication
- signal relays for terrestrial broadcast and cable systems
- direct broadcast satellite TV and radius

Escape velocity
The escape velocity is the speed a mass needs at the surface of a planet so that is has
just sufficient K.E to escape completely from gravitational field of a planet

Q.1. A space capsule is travelling between the earth and the moon . Find the distance
from the earth at which it is subject to zero gravitational force . ( ME = 6.0 x 10 24 kg , Mm
= 7.4 x 10 22 , distance between moon and earth = 3.8 x 10 8 m )

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Q.2. The mass of the earth is 81 times that of the moon and the distance from the
centre of the earth to that of the moon is about 4.0n x 10 8 m. Calculate the distance
from the centre of the earth where the resultant gravitational force becomes zero when
a spacecraft is launched from the earth to the moon .

Q.3. What is the gravitational potential at a point on the earth’s surface ? ( ME = 6.0 x
1024 kg ,
RE = 6.4x 10 11 m )

Q.4. The diagram shows two points X and Y at a distance L and 2 L from the centre of
the earth. The gravitational potential at X is – 8 kJ/kg.

Q.5. X and Y are two points at respective distances R and 2R from the centre of the
earth, where R is greater than the radius of the earth. The gravitational potential at X is
– 800 kJ/kg. Calculate the work done when a 1 kg mass is taken from X to Y.

Q.6. A satellite is put into an orbit so that is appears stationary to an observer on the
earth. Find (i) its orbiting speed (ii) radius of its of its orbit. ( G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2kg-2 ,
ME = 6.0 x 10 24 kg )

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Q.7. The escape speed of an oxygen molecule at the earths’ surface is 1.1 x 10 m/s.
What is the escape speed at a height of 0.2 RE above the earth surface ?