Physics - Universal Gravitation Unit Review

Gravity

• Exerted by every mass onto e very mass in the universe

• weak force

g

• gravitational field strength or acceleration due to gravity

• proportional to M and inversely proportional to m

• depends on location

M

mass creating the gravitational field

d

• distance from center of field

• radius of planet if mass is on the ground

G

universal gravitational constant

m

• secondary mass which M makes a gravitational field between

• general mass: does not depend on location

Uniform circular motion

An object moves in a circle at a constant speed; constant state of acceleration due to constantly changing direction

Tangential Velocity

velocity always points along the tangent line in UCM

Centripetal acceleration

In UCM, acceleration always points toward the middle of the circle.