TOPIC: GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

LECTURER: MR MUBITA.D

2022 -2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

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Summary
 The gravitational field strength at a point is the gravitational force exerted per unit mass on a
small object placed at that point:

𝐺𝑀
𝑔=
𝑟2

 On or near the surface of the Earth, the gravitational field is uniform, so the value of g is
approximately constant. Its value is equal to the acceleration of free fall. 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠
𝐺𝑀𝑚
 Gravitational potential energy 𝐸𝑃 =
𝑟

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

 The gravitational potential of a point mass is given by:

𝐺𝑀
ф=−
𝑅
 The orbital period of a satellite is the time taken for one orbit.
 The orbital period can be found by equating the gravitational force
𝐺𝑀𝑚 𝑚𝑉 2
𝐹= to the centripetal force 𝐹 =
𝑟2 𝑟
 The orbital speed of a planet or satellite can be determined using the equation:

𝐺𝑀
𝑉2 =
𝑟
 Geostationary satellites have an orbital period of 24 hours and are used for
telecommunications transmissions and for television broadcasting.

𝑟3
 Orbital period 𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝐺𝑀

2𝐺𝑀
 Escape velocity 𝑉 = √
𝑟

QUESTION ONE
(a) Calculate the gravitational force of attraction between:
(i) two objects separated by a distance of 1.0 cm and each having a mass of
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 100 g [3]
(ii) Two asteroids separated by a distance of 4.0 ×10 9 m and each having a mass of 5.0 ×1010
kg [3]
(iii) A satellite of mass 1.4×104 kg orbiting the Earth at a distance of 6800 km from the Earth’s
centre. (The mass of the Earth is 6.0 ×1024 kg.) [3]
(b) The Earth has radius 6400 km. The gravitational field strength on the Earth’s surface is 9.81
N kg−1. Use this information to determine:
(i) the mass of the Earth [3]
(ii) The Earth’s mean density [3]

[TOTAL 15 MARKS]

QUESTION TWO
(a) A planet has a diameter of 6800 km and a mass of 4.9×1023 kg. A rock of mass 200 kg, initially
at rest and a long distance from the planet, accelerates towards the planet and hits the surface
of the planet.
Calculate:
(i) The change in potential energy of the rock [ 5]
(ii) The speed of the rock when it hits the surface [5]

(b) Calculate the orbital speed of an artificial satellite travelling 200 km above the Earth’s surface.
(The radius of Earth is 6.4 ×106 m and its mass is 6.0 ×1024 kg) [5]

(c) The Moon orbits the Earth at an average distance of 384 000 km from the centre of the Earth.
Calculate its orbital speed. (The mass of the Earth is 6.0×1024 kg.) [5]

[TOTAL: 20 MARKS]

QUESTION THREE
(a) For any future mission to Mars, it would be desirable to set up a system of three or four
geostationary (or ‘martostationary’) satellites around Mars to allow communication between the
planet and Earth. Calculate the radius of a suitable orbit around Mars. Mars has mass 6.4×1023
kg and a rotational period of 24.6 hours. [5]

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(b) Mercury, the smallest of the eight recognised planets, has a diameter of
4.88 ×106 m and a mean density of 5.4 ×103 kg m−3.
(i) Calculate the gravitational field at its surface. [5]
(ii) A man has a weight of 900 N on the Earth’s surface. What would his weight be on the
surface of Mercury? [5]

(c) Calculate the potential energy of a spacecraft of mass 250 kg when it is

20 000 km from the planet Mars. (Mass of Mars = 6.4. ×1023 kg, radius of
Mars = 3.4 ×106 m.) [5]

QUESTION FOUR

A. Calculate the mass of the Sun using the fact that the period of
the Earth’s orbit around the Sun is 3.156 ×107 s and its distance
from the Sun is 1.496 ×1011 m.

B. Calculate the escape speed from the Earth for a 5 000-kg

spacecraft, and determine the kinetic energy it must have at the
Earth’s surface in order to move infinitely far away from the
Earth. [5 marks]

C. Two objects attract each other with a gravitational force of

magnitude
1.00 ×10-8 N when separated by 20.0 cm. If the total mass of the
two objects is 5.00 kg, what is the mass of each? [5 marks]

D. A 200-kg object and a 500-kg object are separated by 0.400 m.

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 (I) Find the net gravitational force exerted by these objects
on a
50.0-kg object placed midway between them [5 marks].
(II) At what position (other than an infinitely remote one) can the
50.0-kg object be placed so as to experience a net force of zero?
[5 marks]

QUESTION FIVE (5)

A. A satellite of the Earth has a mass of 100 kg and is at an altitude of 2.0×106 m.
(I) What is the potential energy of the Satellite-Earth system?
(II) What is the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the satellite?
(III) What If? What force does the satellite exert on the Earth?

B. Using the known radius of the Earth and the fact that g = 9.80 m/s2 at the Earth’s surface,
find the average density of the Earth.

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