Physics Fields - Gravitational

For G11 Exams, equations and names

Gravitational Field Strength

g = F/m = GM/r² = dV_g/dr

Gravitational Force

F = GMm/r²

Gravitational Potential Energy

E_p = -GMm/r

Gravitational Potential

V_g = -GM/r

Work

W = mdV_g

Escape Velocity

V_esc = root 2GM/r

Orbital Velocity

V_orbital = root GM/r

Work between Equipotentials

In order to do the same amount of work between equipotentials you have to travel further because the gravitational force becomes weaker.

What is gravitational field strength?

This is the change in gravitational potential over distance

Why doesn’t a satellite do any work?

Because its force and direction of movement are perpendicular. Also because it remains on the same equipotential

When to use gravitational equations and when to use kinematics?

• Use kinematics for quick, everyday problems near the surface of a planet.

• Use gravitational for space travel, astronomy, and large altitude changes.

What is Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation?

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

What is Kepler’s first law?

Kepler's first law of planetary motion states that the orbit of every planet is an ellipse, with the Sun located at one of the two foci.

What is Kepler’s second law?

Kepler’s second law states that a line connecting a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time. Because planetary orbits are elliptical rather than perfectly circular, planets must travel faster when they are closer to the Sun and slower when they are farther away.

What is Kepler’s third law?

Kepler's Third Law states that the square of a planet's orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun.

What is Newton’s First Law?

Newton's first law of motion states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force. Also known as the Law of Inertia, it explains that objects naturally resist changes to their current state of motion

What is Newton’s second law?

Newton's second law of motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

What is Newton’s third law?

Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object simultaneously exerts a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction on the first.

Define Gravitational Potential

Gravitational potential is the amount of work done per unit mass to bring an object from an infinite distance to a specific point in a gravitational field

Ideal Gas assumptions

Under what conditions does a real gas behave like an ideal gas?

A real gas approximates to an ideal gas at conditions of low pressure, high temperature, and low density.