Universe and Gravitational Fields Flashcards

Flashcards for Universe and Gravitational Fields

Universe

A large collection of galaxies and billions of stars.

Galaxy

A collection of planets orbiting a common star.

Milky Way

Our solar system's galaxy.

Circular Path

Planets orbit the Sun in this type of path.

Elliptical Path

Comets orbit the Sun in this type of path.

Natural Satellite

Objects like moons that orbit planets.

Artificial Satellite

Orbit around planets in a circular path

Gravitational Field Strength

Force per unit mass, measured in N/kg.

W = mg

Weight = mass x gravitational field strength

Gravitational Force

Enables bodies to orbit around others.

Decreases

As a comet moves closer to a star, gravitational potential energy does this.

Increases

As a comet moves closer to a star, kinetic energy does this.

Smaller

The gravitational force on a comet at a farther position is this compared to closer.

2πr

Circumference of a circle with radius r.

Time Period (T)

Time taken for one cycle

Orbital Speed

2πr/T