Grade 11 → Gravitational force → Universal gravitation ↓
Newton's law of universal gravitation
Introduction
Newton's law of universal gravitation is a fundamental principle that describes how objects in the universe attract each other with a force called gravity. This concept is important in understanding the behavior of celestial bodies and terrestrial phenomena. In simple terms, this law states that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe 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.
Interpretation of the law
The mathematical expression of Newton's law of universal gravitation is given as follows:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Where:
F
is the gravitational force between the two masses.G
is the gravitational constant, which is approximately equal to6.674 × 10^-11 N(m/kg)^2
.m1
andm2
are the masses of the two objects.r
is the distance between the centers of the two masses.
Visualization of gravitational attraction
Let's imagine this gravitational attraction between two objects:
Importance of the gravitational constant
The gravitational constant G
is important for calculating the gravitational force between two masses. Its small value indicates that the gravitational force is relatively weak compared to other fundamental forces, such as the electromagnetic force. Despite its weakness, gravity has significant effects over long distances and is the dominant force governing the motion of celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.
In-universe examples
The following examples show the application of Newton's law of universal gravitation:
Example: Earth and Moon
The gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Moon keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth. If the mass of the Earth is m1 = 5.972 × 10^24 kg
and the mass of the Moon is m2 = 7.348 × 10^22 kg
, and the average distance r = 384,400 km
, we can calculate the gravitational force:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Substituting the values:
F = 6.674 × 10^-11 * (5.972 × 10^24 * 7.348 × 10^22) / (384,400,000^2)
After calculation, the force is about 1.98 × 10^20 N
Example: Apple and Earth
Why does an apple fall from a tree? Consider the Earth, which has a mass of 5.972 × 10^24 kg
, and an apple, which has a mass of 0.1 kg
, that is about 1 m
above the ground. We can calculate the force of gravity using:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Plugging in the values:
F = 6.674 × 10^-11 * (5.972 × 10^24 * 0.1) / 1^2
After calculation, the force is about 0.98 N
, which is the force pulling the apple towards the earth.
Inverse square law
1 / r^2
term in the formula refers to the inverse square law. This means that the gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance between the objects. If you double the distance between two objects, the gravitational force becomes one-fourth as strong. This principle is important when calculating gravitational forces over astronomical distances.
Implications of the law
Newton's law of universal gravitation has several important implications:
- It explains why planets revolve around stars and why moons revolve around planets.
- It describes the tides on Earth caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun.
- It provides the basis for understanding more complex theories such as general relativity.
Conclusion
Newton's law of universal gravitation is a cornerstone of physics, providing information about the force that governs the motion of celestial bodies and objects on Earth. Understanding this law helps unravel the mysteries of the universe, from the orbits of planets to the behavior of galaxies.
By recognizing the relationship between mass and distance in gravitational attraction, we gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance and order in the universe. This fundamental concept not only explains past observations but also guides future explorations of the universe.