Newton’s Law of

Universal Gravitation

Lebawi Physics
 Every particle in the Universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly
proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the
1
distance between them.
𝐹 ∝ 𝑀1 𝑀 2𝐹 ∝ 2
𝑅
Newton’s Law of
Universal Gravitation
 𝑅
𝑀1 𝑀1 𝑀2 𝑀2
𝐹 𝐺= 𝐺 2
𝑅
the constant of universal
gravitation

Henry Cavendish (1731–

1810)
Free-Fall Acceleration and the
Gravitational Force
ME Ms
FG = G 2
= Ms g
𝑀𝐸 ( RE + h )
𝑚𝑠
h
𝑅𝐸
ME
g= G 2
( RE + h )
 ME
On the Surface g= G h =0
2
ME ( RE + h )
g= G 2
𝑅𝐸
2 24
− 11 𝑁𝑚 5.97 ×10
g=6.67 ×10 2
× 6 2
Kg
Kg (6.4 ×10 𝑚)

𝑚
g = 9. 81 2
𝑠
 PE 2
Gravitational Potential
Energy
For objects high above the earth’s surface
h
𝑟 = 𝑅𝐸+ h mgr
Substituting for g

M E Ms
PE U =− G
1

( RE + h )
RE
Orbital Speed
When planets or satellites orbit around a source mass, the
centripetal force is produced by gravitational force
𝟐
ME Ms 𝑴 𝑺𝑽
FG = G =
( RE + h )
2
𝑹𝑬 + 𝒉
Solving for V, we get

𝑉 𝑂𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡 = 𝐺
𝑀𝐸
𝑅 𝐸 +h √
Escape Velocity
The escape speed is the speed needed for an object to soar off
into space and not return
1 2 𝑀 𝐸 𝑀𝑆
𝑀 𝑆 𝑉 =G
2 𝑅𝐸

√
Solving for V, we get
2𝐺𝑀 𝐸
𝑉 𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒 =
𝑅𝐸
 Escape Velocity of the Earth
𝑉 𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒 =
√ 2𝐺𝑀 𝐸
𝑅𝐸

√
2
𝑁𝑚
−11 24
2 ×6.67 × 10 2
× 5.97 ×10 𝐾𝑔
Kg
𝑉 𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒 = 6
6.4 ×10 𝑚

√
2
𝑚
7
𝑉 𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒 = 1 2.44 × 10 2
𝑠
𝑉 𝐾𝑚
𝐸𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑒 =11
𝑠
While Copernicus rightly observed that the planets revolve
around the Sun, it was Kepler who correctly defined their
orbits. At the age of 27, Kepler became the assistant of a
wealthy astronomer, Tycho Brahe, who asked him to define
the orbit of Mars. Brahe had collected a lifetime of
astronomical observations, which, on his death, passed into
Kepler’s hands. Using these observations, Kepler found that
the orbits of the planets followed three laws.

Kepler’s Laws
All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun
at one focus.

Kepler’s First Law

A line drawn from the Sun to any planet will
sweep out equal areas in equal times

Kepler’s Second Law

 The square of the orbital period of any planet is
proportional to cube of the average distance from the Sun
to the planet.

2 3
T =Kr
Kepler’s Third Law
Finding K
We know that the period of Revolution of a planet and its orbital
speed are related as
2 πr
T=
V
2 2
2 4𝜋 𝑟
T = 2
𝑉
2 2
4𝜋 𝑟 3
=K r
𝑀𝑠
𝐺
𝑟
2
4 𝜋
𝐾 =
𝐺𝑀 𝑠
The Mass of the Sun
Calculate the mass of the Sun noting that the period of the
Earth’s orbit around the Sun is 3.156 x 107 s and its
distance from the Sun is 1.496 x 1011 m

𝟐
𝟒𝝅 3
𝑴𝑺= 2
r
𝟐
𝑮T
𝟏𝟏 𝟑
𝟒 ×𝟑 .𝟏𝟒 × ( 1.496 x 𝟏𝟎 )
𝑴 𝑺= 𝟐
− 𝟏𝟏 𝑵𝒎 𝟕 𝟐
6.67 ×𝟏𝟎 2
× ( 3.156 x 𝟏𝟎 s )
Kg

Kg
 Geosynchronous Orbit

From a telecommunications point of view, it’s advantageous

for satellites to remain at the same location relative to a
location on the Earth. This can occur only if the satellite’s
orbital period is the same as the Earth’s period of rotation,
24 h.