Phy 101 - C19 - 1

PHY 101: Mechanics and Properties of
Matter
Dr. S.O Oseni
(Lecture : C19-1)
GRAVITATION
Learning Goals:
• Understanding the laws that governs the relationship between heavenly bodies
• How to calculate the gravitational forces that any two bodies exert on each other.
• How to relate the weight of an object to the general expression for gravitational
force (Calculating acceleration due to gravity on, above and inside the earth crust).
• How to calculate the speed, orbital period, and mechanical energy of a satellite in a
circular orbit.
• How to apply and interpret Kepler’s three laws that describe the motion of planets.
Keplers’s Law of Planetory Motion
1. The planets describes motion in elliptical orbit about the

sun as a focus
1st Law
2. The line joining the sun and each planet sweeps out equal
areas in equal times (i.e constant period) due to
conservation of angular momentum
2nd Law
3. The square of the period T is proportional to the cube of 𝟑

the radius of the ellipse of each planet i.e T2 α r3. 𝟐𝝅𝒓 𝟐
𝑻= 3rd Law
√ 𝑮 𝑴𝒆
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
States that:
Every particle of matter 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 (r) between them. That is
Where G is the gravitational constant.

The gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10−11 N∙m2/kg2 is a fundamental physical
constant that has the same value for any two particles
Consider the sun of Fr

mass, M and a planet
of mass, m, the r= or = This is Kepler’s 3rd law and it implies
gravitational force 2nd law since for a particular planet
which provide the = i.e T2 α r3. moving in an orbit, the radius r is
centripetal force is constant
given by:
Gravitational Attraction
Our solar system is part of a spiral galaxy like this one, which contains
roughly 1011 stars as well as gas, dust, and other matter (mostly dark
matter).
The entire assemblage is held

together by the mutual
gravitational attraction of all
the matter in the galaxy
Weight and Acceleration Due to Gravity
The weight of an object on the earth is the gravitational force that the earth exerts on the
object. This force gives the object an acceleration of g towards the centre of the earth .
Hence F g
Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity at the earth’s surface is:
1
∴𝑔∝ 2
𝑟
This explains why g is not constant all over the world (It is more at the pole than at the
equator. The average value of g is 9.8 ms-2
The acceleration due to gravity, g’ of an The acceleration due to gravity, g’’ of an object
object at an height h above the earth is at an height h beneath the earth surface is
given by given by
g’ g g’’ g
Orbits Round the Earth
Satellites are objects that revolve other objects. For example, the moon
around the earth is a natural satellite.
The force due to the

earth’s gravitational
attraction provides
the centripetal
acceleration/ force
that keeps a satellite
in orbit.
Using the Newton’s law of gravitation,
For one revolution of a satellite, the
we have:
F
period is given by:
Substituting we will have
This confirms Kepler’s 3rd Law
For a circular orbit of

radius r , the Speed, V
of a satellite is just A satellite is said to be
right to keep its parked if its period is 24 Hrs
distance from the ( the time taken by earth to
center of the earth complete one rotation
constant.
Earth’s Gravitational Potential Energy
The earth’s gravitational potential energy at any point in the earth gravitational field
can be defined as the total work done per unit mass on a body to move it from the
point which is at a distance r from the center of the earth to infinity (where F g = 0)
Hence, the Gravitational potential, is thus given by
U depend on distance, r
Escape Velocity
If a body is given an energy which is equal to the gravitational potential

energy on the earth surface, it will go to infinity. In other words, if a body
leaves the earth surface with a velocity, such that its kinetic is equal to the
gravitational potential energy, it will never return. Thus, It is said to be
escaped. That is :
hence,
is called the escape velocity

Example:
The mass of the moon is about one

eighty-first, and its radius one-fourth,
that of the earth. Calculate the
acceleration due to gravity on the
surface of the moon.
Solution

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PHY 101: Mechanics and Properties of

Dr. S.O Oseni

1. The planets describes motion in elliptical orbit about the

3. The square of the period T is proportional to the cube of 𝟑

Where G is the gravitational constant.

Consider the sun of Fr

The entire assemblage is held

The force due to the

This confirms Kepler’s 3rd Law

For a circular orbit of

Hence, the Gravitational potential, is thus given by

If a body is given an energy which is equal to the gravitational potential

is called the escape velocity

The mass of the moon is about one

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