Gravitational Fields

Physics JC 1

Ms. Tyas
 Objectives

• understand the concept of a gravitational field as an example of a field of force and

define gravitational field as force per unit mass
• represent a gravitational field by means of field lines
• understand that, for a point outside a uniform sphere, the mass of the sphere may
be considered to be a point mass at its centre
m1m2
• recall and use Newton’s law of gravitation F = G
r 2
for the force between two
point masses.
 Newton’s Law of Gravitation

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

note: value of G will be given in exam paper

 Gravitational field

• The force field around a mass is called a gravitational field

• The gravitational field can be represented by drawing field lines.
• The field lines show two things;
1. the arrow on the field lines show us the direction of the graviational force
on a mass placed in the field
2. the spacing of the field lines indicates the strength of the gravitaitonal
field. The further apart they are, the weaker the field
 Gravitational field pattern
1. A radial fields

• the field lines are like the spokes of a wheel, always directed to
the centre.
• the magnitude of the gravitational field in a radial field decreases
with increased distance from the massive body.

2. A uniform fields
• the gravitational field strength is the same in magnitude and
direction throughout the field. the field lines are therefore
parallel to one another.
 Is the Earth’s gravitational field uniform or radial?

• the gravitational field strength of the Earth falls with increasing

distance from the Earth. The field is therefore radial.

• However, over small distances which are much less than Earth’s
radius, the change of field strength is insignificant so the field
strength can be considered uniform.

Example: the measured value of g has the same magnitude (=9.8 Nkg-1) and
direction (downwards) 100 m above the Earth as it has on the surface. In theory
g is smaller higher up, but the difference is too small to be noticeable.
 Gravitational Field Strength (g)
F
The gravitational field strength at a point is the g=
m
gravitational force exerted per unit mass

The SI unit of g is N kg-1

Gravitational field strength g due to mass M at a distance r from the centre:

GMm
F GM
g= g= r2 g= 2
m m r
Gravitational Fields
Part 3 - Gravitational Potential

Physics JC 1
By: Ms. Tyas
Lecture 29 October 2021
 Objectives

• define gravitational potential at a point as the work done per unit mass in
bringing a small test mass from infinity to the point.

GM
• use ϕ = − r for the potential in the field due to a point mass

• understand how the concept of gravitational potential leads to the

gravitational potential energy of two point masses and use
GMm
g.p.e = −
r
Energy in a gravitational field

• as we saw in chapter 5, the object’s change in g.p.e can be m

calculated as mgΔh
Δh
• in g.p.e = mgh, we assume that g.p.e = 0 at Earth’s surface.
This is fine for many practical purposes, but not if we are m
considering objects moving through space, far from Earth.

• If we lift an object to a great height, g decreases and we would

need to take this into account when calculating g.p.e

Let’s define the zero of g.p.e than using the surface of the Earth
Energy in a gravitational field
• At infinity, we have reach limit where gravitational
force due to mass M is zero.
• We define the point at infinity (r = ∞) to have zero
gravitational potential energy.

• The gravitational potential energy of a mass m at a

point is defined as the work done on the mass in
moving it from infinity to that point.
Energy in a gravitational field

GMm
g.p.e = −
r

• The g.p.e is always negative Note: g.p.e = zero at infinity

• The g.p.e of the earth-astronaut system becomes

less negative (increases) as the astronaut moves
away from the earth.
 Gravitational Potential
KEY DEFINITION
the gravitational potential at a point is the W
ϕ=
work done per unit mass in bringing a point m
mass from infinity. Note that the unit of gravitational potential is J kg-1

GM
ϕ=−
r

• The gravitational potential at the surface of the

body is negative

• The potential increases towards zero as we move

away from the body moves away from the body.
 Spacecraft coming from a distant star visit the
Solar System
1. As the spacecraft approaches the Earth, it is attracted
towards it. The closer, the lower its g.p.e becomes and so the
lower its potential
2. as the spacecraft moves away from the Earth, the g.p.e
increases and so we can say that the potential increases. The
Earth’s gravitational field creates a giant ‘potential well’ in
space.
3. as the spacecraft approaches the Sun, it is attracted into a
much deeper well
Escape velocity
• The escape velocity ve from a point in the gravitational field is the
minimum velocity required to project a mass m to infinity in outer space.
k.e at infinity ≥ 0
g.p.e at infinity = 0
Total energy E = k.e + g.p.e ≥ 0

1 2 GMm
mv − ≥0
2 r Earth

Hence
2GM
vesc =
r
Orbiting under gravity
• For an object orbiting a planet, such as an artifiial satellite orbiting
the Earth, gravity provides the centripetal force which keeps it in orbit
• This is a simple situation as there is only one force acting on the
satellite – the gravitational attraction of the Earth.
• The satellite follows a circular path because the gravitational force is
at right angles to its velocity.
 Speed to stay in circular orbit, 𝒗
• Figure on the right shows a satellite travelling in a circular orbit
around the Earth.
• The gravitational pull on the satellite provides the centripetal force
to keep the satellite in orbit.

𝑭𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑭𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝒎𝒗𝟐 𝑴𝒎
=𝑮 𝟐
𝒓 𝒓 Cancelling the 𝑚 and 𝑟:

𝑮𝑴
𝒗𝟐 =
𝒓

Thus, speed for a satellite to stay in circular obit:

𝑮𝑴
𝒗=
𝒓
Angular velocity to stay in circular orbit, 𝝎
Since, speed for a satellite to stay in circular obit:

𝑮𝑴
𝒗=
𝒓

We know that 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟  𝜔 =
𝑮𝑴
𝒗 𝒓 𝑮𝑴 𝟏
𝝎= = = × 𝟐
𝒓 𝒓 𝒓 𝒓
𝑮𝑴
𝝎=
Thus, Angular velocity to stay in circular orbit, 𝝎
𝒓𝟑
The orbital period
Since, speed for a satellite to stay in circular obit:
𝑮𝑴
𝑮𝑴 𝒗𝟐 =
𝒗= 𝒓
𝒓

We know that 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟  𝑣 = 𝑟 𝑣 =
4𝜋 𝑟 𝐺𝑀
=
𝑇 𝑟 𝑇 4𝜋
= The orbital period:
𝑟
=
𝐺𝑀 𝑟 𝐺𝑀
𝑇 4𝜋
4𝜋
𝑇 = 𝑟 𝑇= 𝑟
𝐺𝑀
 Kepler’s third law
𝑇 4𝜋
=
𝑟 𝐺𝑀
Kepler’s Third law states that the square of period (𝑇 ) is directly proportional
to the cube of the radius( 𝑅 )

𝑇 ∝𝑟
From the above equation, it should be noted that the period is independent of the
mass of the object/satellite that orbiting.
 GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT

If the rotational speed of a satellite in its orbit is the same as rotational speed of
the Earth as it turns about its axis, the satellite is said to be in geostationary
orbit and will exhibit the following characteristics:
a) It will revolve in the same direction as the Earth
b) It will rotate with the same period of rotation as the Earth
c) It will move directly above the Earth’s equator
d) The centre of geostationary orbit is at the centre of the Earth.
 KINETIC ENERGY OF SATELLITE

Consider satellite of mass m, orbiting with speed 𝑣 round Earth of mass 𝑀, in a

circular orbit of radius r.
1
𝐸𝑘 = 𝑚𝑣
2
We know that 𝑣 = 𝑣 =
Thus, kinetic energy of satellite:

1 𝐺𝑀
𝐸𝑘 = 𝑚 𝟏 𝑮𝑴𝒎
2 𝑟 𝑬𝒌 =
𝟐 𝒓
 TOTAL ENERGY OF SATELLITE

The total energy E of the satellite is the sum of the kinetic energy and
gravitational potential energy of the satellite.
Hence, 𝐸 = 𝐸 + 𝐸
We know that 𝐸 =
and g.p.e , 𝐸𝑝 = −

1 𝐺𝑀𝑚 𝐺𝑀𝑚
𝐸= −
2 𝑟 𝑟
𝟏 𝑮𝑴𝒎
Thus, total energy of satellite:
𝑬= −
𝟐 𝒓