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Physics I Class 17: Newton's Theory of Gravitation
Physics I Class 17: Newton's Theory of Gravitation
Class 17
Newtons Theory of
Gravitation
Rev. 03-Nov-04 GB
17-1
17-2
Forces in Physics 1
(so far)
17-3
What if the force of gravity, the same force that causes an apple to
fall to the ground in this garden, extends much further than usually
thought? What if the force of gravity extends all the way to the
moon? Newton began to calculate the consequences of his
assumption
17-4
Newtons Law of
Universal Gravitation
m1 m 2
F G 2 r
r
The meaning of each term:
F:
G:
m1 :
m2:
r 2:
r :
17-5
Properties of Gravity
Object 2
Gravitational Force on 1 from 2
Object 1
Every object with mass is attracted by every other object with mass.
Gravity is a force at a distance (through occupied or empty space).
Gravity is a central force (center-to-center for spherical bodies).
Gravity varies as the inverse square of the center distance.
Gravity varies as the product of the masses.
17-6
mM
GM
17-7
Gravity is a
Conservative Force
Both the mathematical form of Newtons Law of Universal
Gravitation and experimental evidence show that gravity is a
conservative force. Therefore, we can find a gravitational
potential energy for an object with mass m being attracted by
another object with mass M.
The gravitational potential energy is defined (for convenience)
to be zero at infinity. We can calculate it by finding the
positive work from any point to infinity you can find the
details in the book in section 13-6.
GmM
GmM
U g (r ) F d r
d
r
(
r
)
r
r
r
17-8
U g ( y) m g ( y y 0 )
GmM
U g (r )
r
(h << R)
U g m g ( R h R ) m g h
GmM GmM
1
1
U g
G mM
Rh
R
R
R
1
h
1
mG M
mG M 2
R
R
h
R R h
mG M
h
GM
m
h mgh
R2
R2
17-9
Class #17
Take-Away Concepts
1.
2.
m1 m 2
F G 2 r
r
3.
U g (r )
GmM
r
17-10
Class #17
Problems of the Day
___1. To measure the mass of a planet, with the same radius as
Earth, an astronaut drops an object from rest (relative to the
surface of the planet) from a height h above the surface of the
planet. (h is small compared to the radius.) The object
arrives at the surface with a speed that is four (4) times what
it would be if dropped from the same distance above Earths
surface. If M is the mass of Earth, the mass of the planet is:
A. 2 M
B. 4 M
C. 8 M
D. 16 M
E. 32 M
17-11
Class #17
Problems of the Day
2. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the
planet Mars. Assume Mars is a perfect sphere and neglect effects
23
6
due to rotation. Use M = 6.4 10 kg and R = 3.4 10 m.
17-12
Activity #17
Gravitation
(Pencil and Paper Activity)
Objective of the Activity:
1.
2.
3.
17-13
17-15
17-16
2
3
T
r
2
(
2
)
T2
r3
GM
ENERGY IN CIRCULAR
ORBITS
GM
K mv m
r
GMm
K
2r
GMm
U
r
GMm
E U K
2r
1
2
1
2
17-20
17-21
17-22
17-23
17-24
Black Holes
17-25
17-26