PHYSICS FORM 4

GRAVITATION
3.1 Newton’s Universal
Law of Gravitational
How do man-made
satellites help to
improve human life?
 Satellites are invented
Do you ever wonder how
There are various types of man-
made satellites revolving in their for communication
does a satellite
respective orbits inable
outertospace. purposes, weather
forecasts and Earth
revolve in their orbits? observations. Why are
these satellites able to
revolve in their
respective orbit?
Curiosity about the universe has
encouraged scientists to launch
spaceships and satellites which
can overcome the Earth’s gravity.
At present, there are spaceships
which are moving far away from
Earth. Such spaceships enable
photographs of planets to be taken
to benefit scientific inventions and
technology.
 LEARNING STANDARD 1
3.1.1 Explain Newton’s
Universal Law of
Gravitation
 In 1667, Isaac Newton, observed an apple which fell vertically to the
ground and the movement of the Moon around the Earth. He concluded
that a force of attraction not only exist between the Earth and the apple but
also between the Earth and the Moon.
To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

1. A person who jumps up will return to the

ground. What force causes the person to
return to the ground?

Gravitational force
To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

2. Air molecules remain in the atmosphere

without escaping to outer space. What
force acts between the molecules in the
atmosphere and the Earth?

Gravitational force
To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

3. The Moon revolves around the Earth

without drifting away from its orbit. The
Earth exerts a pulling force on the Moon.
Does the Moon also exert a force on the
Earth?
Yes
4. A leaf falls from a tree.

(a) Are both the leaf and the Earth experience

the same gravitational force?

Yes

(b) What is the effect of these forces to the

movement of the fallen leaf and the Earth?

The leaf and the Earth moves

towards one another.
(c) Why does a fallen leaf move towards the
ground?

As the mass of the Earth is very

much larger than the mass of the
leaf, gravitational force does not
have an apparent effect on the
Earth’s movement. As such, we only
observe the leaf falling to the ground.
 Gravitational Force
Gravitational force is known as
universal force because it acts
between any two objects in the
universe.

1. Gravitational force exists

between two bodies.
2. Both bodies experience
gravitational force of the
same magnitude.
 Gravitational Force
Universal force that
acts between two
bodies in the universe Gravitational force
between the sun The Earth
and earth

Gravitational force between

the earth and moon

The moon
The Sun Gravitational
force between
the Sun and
the Moon
 In the year 1687, Isaac Newton presented two relationships that
involve gravitational force between two bodies:
Body 2
Body 1

m1 m2
Gravitational force is directly
proportional to the product
of the masses of the two
bodies, that is
Distance, r

F m1m2
Gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between the centers of the two bodies, that is

Body 2
Body 1

m1 m2

Distance, r
 Formulation of
Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation

m1m2
F = gravitational force between two bodies
m1 = mass of first body
m2 = mass of second body
r = distance between the center of the first body
and the center of the second body.
G = gravitational constant ( G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2kg-2)
Example 1
Calculate the gravitational force between a durian and the Earth.
Mass of durian = 2.0 kg
Mass of the Earth = 5.97 x 10 24kg
Distance between the center of the durian and the center of the Earth = 6.37 x 106 m

m1 = 2.0 kg
m2 = 5.97 x 10 24 kg
r = 6.37 x 10 6 m
G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2kg-2

F = (6.67 x 10-11) x 2.0 x 5.97 x 1024

(6.37 x 106)2
= 19.63 N
Example 2
A rocket at a launching pad experiences a
gravitational force of 4.98 × 105 N. What is
the mass of the rocket?
[Mass of the Earth = 5.97 × 1024 kg, distance
between the centre of the Earth and the
centre of the rocket = 6.37 × 106 m]
F = 4.98 x 105
m1 = 5.97 x 1024 kg
m2 = ?
r = 6.37 x 106 m
G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2
4.98 x 105 = (6.67 x 10-11) x 5.97 x 1024 x m2
(6.37 x 106)2
m2 = (4.98 x 105)(6.37 x 106)2
6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024
= 5.07 x 104 kg
 LEARNING STANDARD 2

Solve problems involving Newton’s

Law of Gravitation for
(i) Two statics objects on the Earth.
(ii) Objects on the Earth’s surface
(iii)Earth and satellites
(iv)Earth and Sun
Solving Problems Involving Newton’s
Universal Law of Gravitation
Gravitational force acts between any
two bodies, including those on Earth,
planets, the Moon or the Sun. What
are the effects of mass and distance
between two bodies on gravitational
force?
 Imagine you and your friend are bodies on Earth.
.
Your mass m1 = 55 kg, and your friend,m2 = 65 kg.
Calculate the gravitational force, F if the
distance between both of you, r is 2.0 m

m2 = 65kg m1 = 55kg

= 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
r = 2.0 m
Lets increase the value of the distance from 2 m to 4 m.

r = 4.0 m

r = 2.0 m

= 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟐 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟒 , 𝑭 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
When the distance between two
bodies between them is increase,
The gravitational force is decrease.
Hence, more separation distance will
result in weaker gravitational forces
Change partners

r = 2.0 m

= 𝟔. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N

m1 = 55 kg m2 = 75 kg
How do the masses of two bodies influence the gravitational
force between them?

r = 2.0 m
𝒊𝒇 𝒎𝟐 = 𝟔𝟓 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
𝒊𝒇 𝒎𝟐 = 𝟕𝟓 , 𝑭 = 𝟔. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
When the masses is increase, the
gravitational force between them will also
be increase.

m1 = 55 kg m2 = 75 kg
What is the effect of distance between two bodies on gravitational force
between them?

r = 4.0 m

r = 2.0 m 𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟐 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟒 , 𝑭 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 N
When the distance between two
bodies between them is increase,
The gravitational force is decrease.

Hence, more separation distance will

result in weaker gravitational forces.
Why is the magnitude of gravitational force between you and
your friend is small?
The masses between two bodies of small mass
has a very small magnitude.
 The larger the mass of the body, the
larger the gravitational force. F2 > F1

The larger distance between the bodies,

the smaller the gravitational force. F2 < F1
To solve problems involving Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation for:
(i) objects on the Earth’s surface
(ii) the Earth and satellite
(iii) the Earth and the Sun
1) What is gravitational force on the man-made satellite before it
launched?

Activity 3.3 page 82

 The Earth
Mass = 5.97 x 1024kg
Radius = 6.37 x 106 m

= 𝟏𝟏 𝟕𝟕𝟔. 𝟏𝟑 𝑵
Man- made satellite
Mass = 1.20 x 103 kg
Distance between the
Earth and the satellite
= 4.22 x 107m
Activity 3.3 page 82
2) Compare the mass of the Earth, mass of the The Moon / Bulan
man-made satellite and the mass of the Sun m = 7.35 x 1022 kg

The Earth / Bumi

Man- made satellite
m = 5.97 x 1024kg
Satelite buatan
R = 6.37 x 106 m
m = 1.20 x 103 kg
The Sun / Matahari Distance between the
m = 7.35 x 1022 kg Earth and the satellite
Distance between the Earth and = 4.22 x 107 m
the Sun = 1.50 x 10 11 m Activity 3.3 page 82
m sun > mearth > mmoon > msatellite
distance > distance
Earth-sun Earth-satellite

3) Compare between the Earth – satellite

distance and the Sun- Earth distance.
3 ) Predict the difference in the
magnitude of the gravitational force
between man-made satellite and the
gravitational force between the Sun
and the Earth.

msun > mearth > mmoon > msatelliete

distance > distance The gravitational force
Earth-sun Earth- satellite between the Sun and the
Earth is bigger.
4 ) Calculate :
(a)The gravitational force between Earth - Satellite
(b) The gravitational force between Earth - Sun

The Moon
Mass = 7.35 x 1022 kg

The Earth
Mass = 5.97 x 1024kg
Radius = 6.37 x 106 m
The Sun
Mass = 7.35 x 1022 kg
Distance between the Earth and
the Sun = 1.50 x 10 11 m
Man- made satellite
Mass = 1.20 x 103 kg
Distance between the
Earth and the satellite
= 4.22 x 107m
Activity 3.3 page 82
 Man- made satellite / satellite Buatan The Earth / Bumi
Mass = 1.20 x 103 kg Mass/Jisim = 5.97 x 1024kg
Distance between the Earth and the Radius/Jejari, R = 6.37 x 106 m
satellite, h = 4.22 x 107m

(a)The gravitational force between Earth – Satellite

= 6.67 x 10−11(5.97 x 1024)(1.20 x

103)
(6.37 x 106 + 4.22 x 107)2
= 202.56 N
 The Sun
The Earth / Bumi
Mass = 7.35 x 1022 kg
Mass= 5.97 x 1024kg
Distance between the Earth and
Radius, R = 6.37 x 106 m
the Sun = 1.50 x 10 11 m

(a)The gravitational force between Earth – Sun

=F = 6.67 x 10-11 x 1.9 x 1030 x 5.97 x 1024

(1.50 x 1011)2

= 3.36 x 10 22 N
5. The gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon is 2.00 x 1020 N. What
is the distance between the centre of the Earth and the centre of the Moon?

Moon
r

Earth
2.0 x 1020 = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 x 7.35 x 1022
r2
r2 = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 x 7.35 x 1022
2.0 x 1020

R = 382,541,674 m = 3.82 x 108 m

 LEARNING STANDARD 3
Relate gravitational acceleration, g on
the surface of the Earth with the
Universal gravitational constant, G
Relating Gravitational Acceleration, g on the surface of
the Earth with Universal Gravitational Constant, G.

According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion,

gravitational force can be expressed as F = mg
From Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation,
gravitational force:F = Gm1m2
r2
What is the relationship between g and G?
Newton 2nd Law of Motion Gravitational force
𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂
𝒂 = 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑭 = 𝒎𝒈

EQUAL

EQUAL

𝒈α𝑮
1. What is the relationship between gravitational acceleration, g and
gravitational constant, G?

𝒈α𝑮

g directly proportional to G
2. What are the factors that influence the value of gravitational
acceleration?
Mass of an object
Distance of the object
 To discuss the variation in the values of g with r

• Mass of the Earth

m = 5.97 x 1024 kg
• Radius of the Earth
• R = 6.37 x 106 m
• Gravitational constant,
G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2
1. Calculate the value of
gravitational acceleration for the
five distances.
Distance from centre of Gravitational acceleration,
the Earth, r
R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 9.8
R2 (6.37 x 106)2
2R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 2.45
R2 (2 x 6.37 x 106)2
3R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 1.09
R2 (3 x 6.37 x 106)2
GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 0.6125
4R R2 (4 x 6.37 x 106)2
GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 0.392
5R R2 (5 x 6.37 x 106)2
1. What is the value of gravitational
acceleration on the Earth’s surface?
9.8 ms-2

2. Plot a graph of g against r.

 Graph shows the variation of
gravitational acceleration
with the distance from the
centre of the Earth

1. How does the value of gravitational 2. How does the value of gravitational
acceleration change when the distance acceleration change when the distance
from the centre of the Earth r < R? from the centre of the Earth increases
(r ≥ R)?
Directly proportional
Inversely proportional
5. Mass of the Earth is 5.97 x 10 24 kg and
radius of the Earth is 6.37 x 10 6 m.
Calculate gravitational acceleration on
the surface of the Earth.

GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024

R2 (6.37 x 106)2
g = 9.8 ms-2
6. A radar imaging satellite orbits around the
Earth at a height of 480 km. What is the value
of gravitational acceleration at the position of
the satellite?

• Mass of the Earth, M = 5.97 x 10 24 kg

• Radius of the Earth, R = 6.37 x 10 6 m
• Gravitational constant,
G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2
h = 480 km = 480 000 m
g = . GM .
(R + h)2
= 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024
(6.37 x 106 + 4.8 x 105)2
g = 8.49 ms-2
7. Discuss the condition where the value
of gravitational acceleration is almost
zero.
Microgravity is the condition
in which people or objects
appear to be weightless.
The effects of microgravity
can be seen when
astronauts and objects float
in their spacecraft or
spacewalk (outside). Heavy
objects move around easily.
 LEARNING STANDARD 4

3.1.4 Justify the importance of knowing the

values of gravitational acceleration of
the planets in the Solar System
.
To compare different gravitational accelerations for the Moon, the Sun and
the planets in the Solar System
Gravitational force is a universal
force. The formula g = GM/R2
can be used to calculate
gravitational acceleration on the
surface of the other bodies such
as planets, the Moon and the
Sun.
 Body Mass, M / kg Radius, R / m g / ms-2
Bumi 5.97 x 1024 6.37 x 106 9.8
Matahari 1.99 x 1030 6.96 x 108 274.0
Bulan 0.073 x 1024 1.74 x 106 1.6
Marikh 0.642 x 1024 3.40 x 106 3.7
Venus 4.87 x 1024 6.05 x 106 8.9
Mercury 0.330 x 1024 2.44 x 106 3.7
Jupiter 1898 x 1024 7.15 x 107 24.8
Saturn 568 x 1024 6.03 x 107 10.4
Uranus 86.8 x 1024 2.56 x 107 8.8
Neptune 102 x 1024 2.48 x 107 11.1
Pluto 0.015 x 1024 1.19 x 106 0.7
 Jupiter
Discussion:
Which planet has the largest gravitational acceleration?

Which planet has closest to the gravitational acceleration on

Saturn
the Earth?

What factors determine the value of the gravitational Mass & Radius
acceleration of a planet? of the planet
GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION

SUN MOON MARS

02 03
274 ms -2 1.625 ms -2 3.711 ms -2

VENUS JUPITER
04 05
9.5 ms -2 24.5 ms -2
It keeps satellite in orbits

gravity influences the paths taken by

everything traveling through space

Slow down space craft

during landing
Rain to fall Heat to dissipate
 Body fluid flow
Air and water to separate
THE EFFECTS OF GRAVITY ON THE GROWTH OF HUMANS
Factor Effect of low gravity Effect of high gravity
Difference in Density of body Density of body increases
density decreases
Bone fragility Bone becomes more No obvious change
fragile due lack of
calcium
Size of lungs Becomes bigger and Become smaller and
expands compress
Blood Blood collects at the Blood collects at the
circulatory top of the body. bottom of the body due to
system its difficulty to flow
upwards.
Blood Decrease in blood Increase in blood pressure
pressure pressure and the rate and the rate of the
of the heartbeat. heartbeat.
 LEARNING STANDARD 5

3.1.5 Describe the centripetal force in

the motion of satellites and
planets system
Centripetal Force in the Motion of
Satellites and Planets
Diagram shows four positions of a
satellite which orbits around the
Earth at a uniform speed. Observe
the direction of the velocity of the
satellite at each position.

• A body moves in a circular motion

always experience change in the
direction of motion even though its
speed is constant.

• Therefore, the velocity of the body

changes.
Centripetal Force in the Motion of
Satellites and Planets

• A force is required to change the

direction of motion of a body.
• The force that acts on a body which
moves in a circular motion is
centripetal force.
ACTIVITY 9 CENTRIPETAL FORCE KIT

When the rubber stopper makes a circular motion, the

stretched string exerts a force on the rubber stopper.
Q1 What is the direction of the force?

in a direction towards the centre of the circle.

What is the relationship between speed of the rubber

stopper and the centripetal force?
Q2 When the speed of the rubber stopper
increase the centripetal force is increase.
 How does the centripetal force change when
the rubber stopper makes a circular motion
with a smaller radius
Q3 we can feel the increase of the tension
in the string. So the centripetal force is
increase.
A force acts on the body in a
direction towards the center
of the circle for a body in
circular motion.

F = centripetal force
m = mass
v = linear speed
r = radius of circle
Centripetal Force in the Motion of
Satellites and Planets

• Linear speed, v shows how fast a

body moves in a circular motion.
➢ Give 3 factors that effect the
centripetal force

1. mass of object
2. linear speed
3. radius of circle
 Example 1
• A hammer throw athlete swingin an iron
ball in a horizontal circle before releasing
it. What is the centripetal force that acts
on the iron ball when the iron ball is
moving a speed of 20 ms-1.

m = 7.2 kg
F = mv2 = (7.2)(20)2 = 1 600 N
r = 1.8 m
r 1.8
v = 20
CAN A SATELLITE ORBIT THE EARTH WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN BY A ROCKET ENGINE?

Prediction of Isaac Newton that a

satellite can orbits around the Earth
without being driven by a rocket engine.

Object launched with low linear speed

will follow trajectory 1 and reaches the
Earth at Q.
Object launched with sufficiently high
linear speed will follow trajectory 2
circulating the Earth. The object will
not return to the Earth.
The prediction of Newton is now a reality with so
many man-made satellites orbiting around the
Earth without being driven by any thrust.

Satellites always experience gravitational force

acting towards the centre of the Earth. The
gravitational force on satellites acts as centripetal
force
By comparing the formula for force and formula for
centripetal force, obtain centripetal acceleration, a.

F = ma = mv2
r
a = v2
r
v = linear speed of satellite
r = radius of the orbit of satellite
Example 2: Text pg 93
A weather satellite orbiting the Earth at a
height, h = 480 km. What is the centripetal
acceleration of the satellite?
Linear speed of the satellite = 7.62 x 103 m s-1.
The radius of the Earth, R = 6.37 x 106 m.

Height of satellite, h = 480 000 m

a = v2 = _ (7.62 x 103)2 _ = 8.48 ms-2
r (6.37 x 106 + 480 000)
 LEARNING STANDARD 6

3.1.6 Determine the mass of the Earth

and the Sun using Newton’s
universal law of gravitation and
centripetal force.
 M = mass of the Earth
m = mass of the Moon
Determine the mass of the Earth and r = radius of the Moon’s orbit
the Sun T = period of revolution of the Moon around the Earth
v = linear speed of the Moon
Distance travelled by the Moon = 2πr
when making one complete orbit
around the Earth.
Linear speed of the Moon, v = Distance
Time
v = 2πr
T
F = GMm F = mv2
r2 r

F = GMm F = mv2
r2 r

GM rv2
GM rv2

GM (2πr)2 r = 4π2r3
T2 T2

M = 4π2r2r
GT2
What is the formula to determine the mass of the Earth? M = 4π2r3
GT2

State the data needed to calculate the mass of the Earth.

• Radius of the orbit of any satellite of the Moon
• Period of revolution

State the data needed to calculate the mass of the Sun

• Radius of the orbit of any planet
• Period of revolution of planet concerned
Period of revolution of the Moon around the Earth, T = 2.36 x 106 s
and the radius of the Moon’s orbit, r = 3.83 x 108 m. Calculate the
mass of the Earth, M.

M = 4π2r3 = _ 4π2(3.83 x 108)3 __

GT2 6.67 x 10-11 x (2.36 x 106)2
= 5.97 x 1024 kg
The Earth revolves the Sun in a period of one year and the radius
of the orbit is r = 1.50 x 1011 m. Calculate the mass of the Sun.

M = 4π2r3 = _ 4π2(1.50 x 1011)3 __

GT2 6.67 x 10-11 x (31,536 000)2

= 2.0 x 1030 kg