2.

8 Understanding
Gravity
Objectives :

• Explain acceleration due to gravity

• State what a gravitational field is
• Define gravitational field strength
• Determine the value of acceleration due to gravity.
• Define weight as the product of mass and g
• Solve problems involving g
 INTRODUCTION
Issac Newton set under the apple tree …….

Why the apple falls ?

Why the apple could
not fly upwards ?

What makes them fall ?

 FORCE OF GRAVITY

Objects fall
because they
are pulled
toward the Earth
by the force of
gravity
Gravitational force is always
acting towards the centre of
the Earth.
ACCELERATION DUE TO
GRAVITY

Observe the diver jumps from a

spring board to a swimming pool.
Describe the motion.
Falls with an acceleration

The pull of gravity causes

objects to fall with
acceleration. This is called
acceleration due to gravity.
 FREE FALL

Free fall
means

Falling under the

force of gravity
only
Air resistance is negligible

Experiment performed by Under free fall, all

Galileo in the Leaning objects will fall
Tower of Pisa in Italy.
with the same
The two iron balls are of
different mass.
acceleration,
g = 9.8 m s-2
FALLING UNDER GREAT AIR
RESISTANCE
Big surface area
therefore

Air resistance is big

Acceleration is smaller

If both are falling in

vacuum , that will be a free
fall motion and fall with the
acceleration g = 9.8 m s-2.
 GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

Gravitational field
is a region around
the earth which will
exert the force of
gravity on any object
that is placed in it.

Gravitational field strength

is the gravitational
force acting on a 1 kg
mass placed at that
The gravitational field strength at
point. g = F / m
the surface of the earth is 9.8 N kg-1
 WEIGHT

Mass 100 kg 100 kg 100 kg

Weight No weight 160 N 1000 N

The mass is always constant but the weight

depends on where it is measured.
 WEIGHT

Weight is defined as the gravitational force acting

on the object.

For an object of mass m , the weight is calculated as

Weight , W = mg
Where g = acceleration due to gravity

This lunar exploration vehicle that this astronaut

is driving on the moon has the same mass that it
has on the earth. However, its weight on the
moon is only 1/6 its weight on the earth.
 WORKED EXAMPLE PG 50

A satellite of mass 600 kg in orbit

experiences a gravitational force of 4 800 N.
Calculate the gravitational field strength.

Solution

g=F/m
= 4 800/ 600
= 8 N kg-1
 WORKED EXAMPLE PG 51

A stone is released from rest and falls into a well.

After 1.2 s, it hits the bottom of the well,
(a)What is the velocity of the stone when it hits the
bottom ?
(b)Calculate the depth of the well
Solution

(a)u = 0, a = 9.8 m s-2, (b) u =0, a = 9.8 m s-2,

t = 1.2 s, v = ? t = 1.2 s , s= ?
Using v = u + at Using s = ut + ½ at2
v = 0 + (9.8 x 1.2) s = 0 + ½ (9.8)(1.2)2
v = 11.76 m s-1 = 7.056 m
 WORKED EXAMPLE PG 52

The mass of a helicopter is 6000 kg. What is

the weight of the helicopter where it lands on
the peak of a mountain where the gravitational
field strength is 9.78 N kg-1

Solution

Weight , W = mg
= 6000 (9.78)
= 58 680 N
SUMMARY
After this lesson you have learn that :
1. Falling of an object is caused by the force of
gravity.
2. Free fall means falling under the force of
gravity only.
3. During free fall, all objects with different mass
will fall with a same acceleration known as
acceleration due to gravity.
4. Gravitational field strength , g, is defined as the
gravitational force acting on a 1 kg mass
placed at that point. g = F / m
5. At the surface of the earth , gravitational field
strength is 9.8 N kg-1 and the acceleration due
to gravity is 9.8 m s-2
6. Weight = mass x g