Physics - 1.5 - Gravity and Mass

Can gravitational forces be repulsive?

No, they are always attractive.

What is the aggregation of matter?

That two masses will be attracted towards each other due to the gravitational force between them.

What is mass?

The quantity of matter that an object contains.

What is weight?

The gravitational force acting on a mass.

What is a gravitational field?

A region of space in which any object with a mass will experience a gravitational force exerted on it by the other object.

What is gravitational field strength?

The weight per unit of mass (the force that each unit of mass experiences).

Equation: W = …

W = mg

What is gravitational field strength measured in?

N kg^-1 (newtons per kilogram)

What is able to vary, weight or mass?

Weight can vary.

What does Newton’s law of gravitation state?

That there is a force of attraction between any two objects in the universe.

What is the size of the force between two objects proportional to and inversely proportional to?

Proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the distance between them.

Equation (law of gravitation) F (W) =

F = Gm₁m₂ / r²

What is G?

The gravitational constant (6.67 × 10^-11)

Which object experiences gravitational force?

Both objects have a force exerted on them.

Describe an experiment to measure the acceleration of a falling object.

Ball bearing, timer, timing plate.

What happens to the force experienced if the distance is greater?

The force decreases.