Grade 12 Gravity
Grade 12 Gravity
Grade 12 Gravity
F=
F= 685 N
Calculate the force of gravity that exists between a 60
kg person and an 80 kg person who are 50 cm apart
from each other.
Solution
Let 50 cm = 0.5 m
G = 6.673 x 10-11 N m2/kg2
Masses = (60kg)(80kg)
(60𝑘𝑔)(80𝑘𝑔) = −6
F = (6.673 x 10 N m /kg
-11 2 2 1.28𝑥10 𝑁
(0.5)2
Gravitational field
Formula: g = ,
Where
g is for gravitational field
G for gravity
m for mass
r for distance
The gravitational field is the gravitational
force per unit mass that would be exerted
on a small mass at that point. It is a
vector field, and points in the direction of
the force that the mass would feel.
Example:
Calculate the gravitational field strength
generated by earth (at (a) the earth’s
surface .(b) 5000 km above the earth’s
surface. ( the radius of the earth is
approximately 6380km).
Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is a type
of potential energy which is generated using
height and the presence of gravity. Gravitational
potential energy is the energy possessed or acquired by
an object due to a change in its position when it is
present in a gravitational field. In simple terms, it can be
said that gravitational potential energy is an energy that
is related to gravitational force or to gravity.
The equation for gravitational potential
energy is:
⇒ GPE = m⋅g⋅h
Where,
m is the mass in kilograms
g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 on
Earth)
h is the height above the ground in meters
Example 1. Calculate the gravitational
potential energy of a body of mass
10Kg and is 25m above the ground.
Solution:
Given: Mass m = 10 Kg and Height h = 25 m
G.P.E is given as,
U = m × g × h = 10 Kg 9.8 m/s2 × 25 m
= 2450 J.