PHYSICAL GEODESY

UNIT 2:

GRAVITY FIELD OF
THE EARTH

PRESENTED BY:
ENGR. MARINEL A. MADRIDEO
 GRAVITY FIELD OF THE EARTH

The gravity of Earth, denoted by g, is the net acceleration that is imparted to objects due
to the combined effect of gravitation (from mass distribution within Earth) and the
centrifugal force (from the Earth's rotation).
 The law of gravitational attraction was formulated by Isaac Newton
(1642-1727) and published in 1687, that is, about three generations after
Galileo had determined the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration and
Kepler had discovered his empirical “laws” describing the orbits of planets. In
fact, a strong argument for the validity of Newton’s laws of motion and gravity
was that they could be used to derive Kepler’s laws.
 For our purposes, gravity can be defined as the force exerted on a mass
due to the combination of
(1) the gravitational attraction of the Earth, with mass or and
(2) the rotation of the Earth.
Law of Universal Gravitation
➢Every particle attracts every other particle with the force that is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.

Earth 𝐹𝑒 𝐹𝑚 Moon
Law of Universal Gravitation
𝑀1 𝑚2
𝐹𝑔 = 𝐺
𝑟2

𝐹𝑔 = Gravitational Force
𝐺 = Gravitational Constant
𝑀1 , 𝑚2 =Mass of two bodies
𝑟 = distance between two bodies
Law of Universal Gravitation

The force of gravity acts between all objects

If the mass increases, the force of gravity increases.

If the distance increases, the force of gravity decreases.

Law of Universal Gravitation

Earth 𝐹𝑒 𝐹𝑚 Moon

𝑀𝑒 = 5.97 𝑥 1024 kg 𝑚𝑚 = 7.35 𝑥 1022 kg

𝑟 = 384,000 𝑘𝑚 = 3.84 𝑥108 𝑚

G = 6.67 𝑥10−11 𝑁𝑚2 /𝑘𝑔2

Law of Universal Gravitation

A 65kg and an 80 kg persons are sitting in their

physical geodesy classroom 1.5 meters apart from
each other. Calculate the gravitational force
between them.
Gravitation and Weight
Two ways to calculate your weight

1. 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔

𝑀1 𝑚2
2. 𝐹𝑔 = 𝐺 2
𝑟
Acceleration due to Gravity
1. 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚2 𝑔

𝑀1 𝑚2
2. 𝐹𝑔 = 𝐺 2
𝑟
𝑀1 𝑚2
𝑚2 𝑔 = 𝐺 2
𝑟
𝑀1
𝑔= 𝐺 2
𝑟
Acceleration due to Gravity
International Space Station
=h
24
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ =5.97 𝑥 10 kg
𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ = 6,371 𝑘𝑚
𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 559 𝑘𝑚
𝑔 = 8.29 𝑚/𝑠2
Activity 1
The planet Mars has a mass of 6.42 x 23
10 kg and a radius
(from its center to the surface) of 3.38 x 10 m .How much would
6

a 60 kg Juan weigh on Mars compared to their weight on Earth?

Determine how heavy he would “feel” he weighed in kilograms
on Mars.
Mass vs. Weight
Mass
➢ A measure of an object’s
resistance to a change in
motion
➢ A measure of the amount of
matter has
➢ Is made of atoms – protons,
neutrons, electrons
➢ Abbrev. – m
➢ unit – kilogram (kg)
➢ Is constant
➢ Does not depend on your
Weight
➢ The force of an object due to
gravity
➢ The force of attraction
between two objects that
have mass
➢ The amount of force the
acceleration due to gravity
exerts on an object
➢ unit – Newton (N)
➢ Not constant
➢ depend on your
Assignment
Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy is the energy possessed or acquired by
an object due to a change in its position when it is present in a gravitational
field. It can be said that gravitational potential energy is an energy that is
related to gravitational force or to gravity.

In simple term, the energy an object has by virtue of its position above
the surface of the Earth.
Gravitational Potential Energy
We know that the potential energy of a body at a given
position is defined as the energy stored in the body at that
position. If the position of the body changes due to the
application of external forces, the change in potential energy
is equal to the amount of work done on the body by the forces
ΔPE = 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘
= 𝐹𝑥𝑑
ΔPE = 𝑚𝑔h
Gravitational Potential Energy

PE = 𝑚𝑔h
Potential Energy is zero at the earth’s surface

𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2
PE = -
𝑟
Potential Energy is zero at infinity away from
earth
Gravitational Potential Energy
Δ PE = 𝒎𝒈Δ h

h=0.85m

h=0
PE=0J
Gravitational Potential Energy
Δh= +0.85 m
Δ𝐏𝐄= +

h=0.85m

h=0
PE=0J
Gravitational Potential Energy
Δh= +0.85 m
Δ𝐏𝐄= +

h=0.85m
Δh= - 0.85 m
h=0 Δ𝐏𝐄= -
PE=0J
Gravitational Potential Energy
PE = 0J
PE r2 r1 𝑟 = ∞
𝑮𝑴𝟏 𝒎𝟐
PE = -
𝒓
PE1 𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2
ΔPE = -
𝑟
PE2
𝑃𝐸1 = -100 J 𝑃𝐸2 = -400 J
ΔPE = 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖

Δ𝑃𝐸1−2 = 𝑃𝐸2 − 𝑃𝐸1

Δ𝑃𝐸1−2 = −400 𝐽 − −100 𝐽 = −300 𝐽

Gravitational Potential Energy
PE = 0J
PE
𝑟= ∞
r2 r1
PE1 𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2
ΔPE = -
𝑟
PE2
𝑃𝐸1 = -100 J 𝑃𝐸2 = -400 J
ΔPE = 𝑃𝐸𝑓 − 𝑃𝐸𝑖

Δ𝑃𝐸2−1 = 𝑃𝐸1 − 𝑃𝐸2

Δ𝑃𝐸1−2 = −100 𝐽 − −400𝐽 = + 300 𝐽

Gravitational Potential Energy
PE = 𝑚𝑔h PE = -
𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2
𝑟
➢Use at or near the Earth’s surface ➢Use for large changes in the height above
the Earth
➢g is constant
➢g is not constant
➢Increasing height = increasing potential
energy ➢Increasing height = increasing potential
energy
➢Decreasing height = decreasing potential
energy ➢Decreasing height = decreasing potential
energy
➢Potential Energy is 0 at the Earth’s
surface ➢Potential Energy is zero at infinity above
the Earth
Gravitational Potential Energy
Space X Falcon 9

Mass = 549, 054 kg

Gravitational Potential Energy
2
𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2 𝑁𝑚
PE = - 𝐺 = 6.67 𝑥10−11
𝑟 𝑘𝑔2
𝑀1 = 5.97 𝑥 1024 kg
𝑀2 = 549, 054 kg
𝑟 = 6371 𝑘𝑚

𝑁𝑚2
6.67 𝑥10 −11
𝑘𝑔2
(5.97 𝑥 10 kg )(549,054 kg )
24
PE = - = −3.44 x1013 J
6,371 𝑥 103 𝑚
Gravitational Potential Energy
PE
𝑟 = ∞𝑃𝐸
= 0𝐽

PE = −3.44 x10^13J
Gravitational Potential Energy
International Space Station 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ =5.97 𝑥 1024 kg
𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ = 6,371 𝑘𝑚
𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 405 𝑘𝑚
PE = −2.47 x1013 J
𝑚𝑠𝑠 = 419, 455 kg
𝑟 = 𝑟𝑒 + h = 6,776 km
2
𝑁𝑚
𝐺 = 6.67 𝑥10−11
𝑘𝑔2

𝑁𝑚2
𝐺𝑀1 𝑚2 6.67 𝑥10−11
𝑘𝑔2
(5.97 𝑥 10kg )(419,455 kg )
24
PE = - =-
𝑟 6,776 𝑥 103m
Gradient of Gravitational Potential
The gravitational potential gradient is the difference between
two gravitational potential in a gravitational field, divided by their
separation.

Δ𝑽
g=-
Δ𝒓
Assign
1. Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a body of mass 10 kg and is 25 m
above the ground.

2. If the mass of the earth is 5.98 ×1024 kg and the mass of the sun is 1.99 × 1030
kg, and the earth is 160 million km away from the sun, calculate the GPE of the
earth.

3. A basketball weighing 2.2 kg falls off a building to the ground 50 m below.

Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the ball when it arrives below.
Forces of Gravity
In addition to the attraction force of the earth mass, there is another
force which effect the rotated earth called Centrifugal Force. This force
created due to the continuous rotation of the earth around its axis. The force
related to the radius of rotation and the square of the angular velocity
Centrifugal Force
This apparent outward force is described by Newton’s Laws of
Motion that “A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion
will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force.”
Centrifugal Force
The Centrifugal force contribute the total gravity effect on the
earth surface by about 10 7–10 8 gal. The force have its maximum
value at the equator of the earth and reach zero value at the poles of
the earth.
The absolute gravity value at the equator is about 978 gal, while
its value at poles about 983 gal, The difference in gravity value
between the equator and pole is range between (5.17 gal) or (5170
mgal).
Centrifugal Force
The radius r of this circle is equal to the mass m times the square
of the velocity v divided by the centripetal force F, or r = mv2/F. The
force can
F= be
m𝒗𝟐calculated by simply rearranging the equation,

Where:
𝑚𝑣 2 F= Force
F= m= Mass
v= Velocity
𝑟
R= Radius
The difference in gravity between equator and pole
1. The acceleration of centrifugal force act outward (away from the earth) in other
word opposite of gravity attraction. The centrifugal force reach maximum value at
equator and its minimum value, which equal zero at poles. The factor create a
difference in gravity between the equator and poles of about 3.39 gal. So this
factor reduce the gravity at equator by 3.39 gal. Therefore the gravity seems more
at poles by +3.39 gal than at equator.

2. The Poles are nearer to the center of the earth than the equator by about 21 km.
This factor will increase the gravity at poles than at equator by about +6.63 gal.
The difference in gravity between equator and pole
3. The mass-shape of the earth (increase of earth radius at equator) will cause an
increase of gravity attraction at the equator than that at the pole due to an increase
of mass, by about 4.85 gal. Therefore the gravity at poles seems lower than at equator
by- 4.85 gal.
Gravitational theory
• The first approximation of the shape of the earth is the sphere.
• The second approximation of the earth is the oblate spheroid.
• For theoretically studies and for simple applications it is possible to use the horizontal
surface (level surface) or (equipotential surface everywhere, which is perpendicular on the
plumb line (force line).
• The problem of determine the shape of the earth is actually is the problem of determine the
shape of equipotential surface.
• The gravitational field include infinity equipotential surfaces.
• These equipotential surfaces are not intersect at all.
• The scientists deals to considered the sea level as the reference equipotential surface in
gravitational studies and call this surface geoid after Listing 1873.
• The equipotential surface not necessarily coincide with the equal gravity surface.
• So the sea level considered approximately a surface of equipotential gravitational surface
(because it is perpendicular on the gravity force at every point)
Level Surfaces and Plumbline
Level Surface / Equipotential Surface
A level surface is a continuous surface that is always
perpendicular to the local plumb line.
• can be at any elevation.
• Due to the Earth’s curvature and variations of density
within the Earth, the direction of the plumb line changes
as one moves from point to point on or near the surface of
the Earth.
Level Surface / Equipotential Surface
An equipotential surface is a continuous surface defined in
terms of work units with regard to its physical environment.
The implication is that equipotential surfaces are parallel if
and only if gravity is the same at both points on each respective
surface.
Level Surface / Equipotential Surface
The magnitude of gravity affects the
spacing of equipotential surfaces, and
variations in the direction of gravity
affect the shape of an equipotential
surface. On a global scale, a stronger
value of gravity will tend to pull the geoid
in closer to the Earth’s center, but the
shape of the geoid, both globally and
locally, is always perpendicular to the
direction of gravity.
Orthometric height is the curved
distance along the plumb line
from the geoid to a point or
surface in question.
H=h-N
where;
h= ellipsoid height
H= orthometric height
N= geoid height
Ellipsoid height is the distance as measured along the ellipsoid
normal above or below the mathematical ellipsoid.
Geoid Height
Discounting curvature of the plumb line, geoid height is taken to
be the distance along the ellipsoid normal between the ellipsoid
and the geoid.
Plumbline
The Plumb line is perpendicular to the equipotential surface
and thus is not pointed toward the geocenter.
The lines that intersect all equipotential surfaces orthogonally are
not exactly straight but slightly curved
Natural Coordinates
The system of level surfaces and plumb lines may be used as a
three-dimensional curvilinear coordinate system that is well suited
to certain purposes: these coordinates can be measured directly, as
opposed to local rectangular coordinates x,y,z.
Note, however, that global rectangular coordinates may be
measured directly using satellites.
 The direction of the earth's axis of rotation and
the position of the equa- torial plane (normal to the
axis) are well defined astronomically. The astro-
nomical latitude 4 of a point P is the angle between
the vertical (direction of the plumb line) at P and the
equatorial plane. From this figure, we also see that
line PN is parallel to the rotation axis, plane GPF
normal to it, that is, parallel to the equatorial plane; n
is the unit vector along the plumb line; plane NPF is
the meridian plane of P. and plane NPG is parallel to
the meridian plane of Greenwich.
Consider now a straight line through P parallel to
the earth's axis of rotation. This parallel and the
vertical at P together define the meridian plane of P.
The angle between this meridian plane and the
meridian plane of Greenwich (or some other fixed
plane) is the astronomical longitude A of P.
Gravity Potentials of the Earth
The gravitational potential at a location is equal to the
work(energy transferred) per unit mass that would be done by the
force of gravity if an object were moved from its location in space to
a fixed reference location. It is analogous to the electric potential
with mass playing the role of charge. The reference location, where
the potential is zero, is by convention infinitely far away from any
mass, resulting in a negative potential at any finite distance.
Ellipsoidal Gravity Potential
Normal Gravity
➢ Theoretical gravity is a means to compare the true gravity on the Earth’s surface
with a physically smoothed model. The most common model of a smoothed Earth is
the Earth ellipsoid.
➢ Despite the fact that the exact density layers in the Earth’s interior are still
unknown, the theoretical gravity g of its level surface can be computed quite easily
by using the International Gravity Formula. This refers to a mean Earth ellipsoid, the
parameters of which are set by international convention. It shows the gravity at a
smoothed Earth’s surface as a function of geographic latitude φ; the actual formula
is:
Normal Gravity
➢ The term 0.00516323 is called gravity flattening (abbreviated β). As a physically
defined form parameter it corresponds to the geometrical flattening f of the
earth ellipsoid.
➢ Up to the 1960s, the formula either of the Hayford ellipsoid (1924) or of the famous
German geodesist Helmert (1906) was used. Hayford has an axis difference to
modern values of 250 m, Helmert only 70 m. The Helmert formula is
Normal Gravity
➢ A slightly different formula for g as a function of latitude is the WGS (World
Geodetic System) 1984 Ellipsoidal Gravity Formula:

➢ The difference between the WGS-84 formula and Helmert's equation is less than
0.68 ppm or 6.8×10−7 m·s−2.
Normal Gravity above the Ellipsoid
➢ Normal gravity above reference ellipsoid – height term in geodetic coordinates

➢ The normal gravity can be expanded into a Taylor series in terms of geodetic height.
At the surface of the reference ellipsoid (u = b) can be written in the form known as
the Somigliana formula using polar and equatorial normal gravity. At the surface of
the reference ellipsoid (u = b, h = 0) that a tanβ = b tanφ. Then the Somigliana
formula can be written in geodetic coordinates as
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