22/8/2025

How do man-made
satellites help to
improve human life?

1
 22/8/2025

There are various types of Satellites are

Do you ever wonder how
man-made satellites invented for
does a satellite
revolving in theirable to
respective communication
orbits in in
outer purposes, weather
revolve theirspace.
orbits? forecasts and Earth
observations. Why
are these satellites
able to revolve in
their respective orbit?

Curiosity about the universe

has encouraged scientists to
launch spaceships and
satellites which can
overcome the Earth’s
gravity.

2
 22/8/2025

At present, there are

spaceships which are moving
far away from Earth. Such
spaceships enable
photographs of planets to be
taken to benefit scientific
inventions and technology.

3
 22/8/2025

NEWTON’S UNIVERSAL
LAW OF
GRAVITATION
𝑮 m1 m2
𝑭=
𝒓𝟐

4
 22/8/2025

[Link]

In 1667, Isaac Newton, observed an apple which fell vertically to the

ground and the movement of the Moon around the Earth. He concluded
that a force of attraction not only exist between the Earth and the apple but
also between the Earth and the Moon.

5
 22/8/2025

To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

1. A person who jumps up will return to the

ground. What force causes the person to
return to the ground?

Gravitational force

To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

2. Air molecules remain in the atmosphere

without escaping to outer space. What
force acts between the molecules in the
atmosphere and the Earth?

Gravitational force

6
 22/8/2025

To discuss gravitational force between two bodies in the universe

3. The Moon revolves around the Earth

without drifting away from its orbit. The
Earth exerts a pulling force on the Moon.
Does the Moon also exert a force on the
Earth?
Yes

4. A leaf falls from a tree.

(a) Are both the leaf and the Earth experience

the same gravitational force?

Yes

(b) What is the effect of these forces to the

movement of the fallen leaf and the Earth?

The leaf and the Earth moves

towards one another.

7
 22/8/2025

(c) Why does a fallen leaf move towards the

ground?

As the mass of the Earth is very

much larger than the mass of the
leaf, gravitational force does not
have an apparent effect on the
Earth’s movement. As such, we only
observe the leaf falling to the ground.

Gravitational Force
Gravitational force is known as
universal force because it acts
between any two objects in the
universe.

1. Gravitational force exists

between two bodies.
2. Both bodies experience
gravitational force of the
same magnitude.

8
 22/8/2025

Gravitational Force
Universal force that
acts between two
bodies in the Gravitational
universe force between The Earth
the sun and
earth

Gravitational force
between the earth and
moon

The moon
The Sun Gravitational
force
between the
Sun and the
Moon

In the year 1687, Isaac Newton presented two

relationships that involve gravitational force between two
bodies: Body 2
Body 1

m1 m2
Gravitational force is directly
proportional to the product
of the masses of the two
bodies, that is
Distance, r

F ∝ m1m2

9
 22/8/2025

Gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of

the distance between the centers of the two bodies, that is

Body 2
Body 1

m1 m2
1
𝐹α
𝑟
Distance, r

Formulation of
Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation

𝑭 ∝ m1m2
m1m2
𝑭∝
𝒓𝟐
𝟏
𝑭∝ 𝟐 𝑮 m1 m2
𝒓 𝑭=
𝒓𝟐

10
 22/8/2025

𝑮 m1 m2
𝑭=
𝒓𝟐
F = gravitational force between two bodies
m1 = mass of first body
m2 = mass of second body
r = distance between the center of the first body
and the center of the second body.
G = gravitational constant ( G = 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm2kg-2)

Example 1
Calculate the gravitational force between a durian and the Earth.
Mass of durian = 2.0 kg
Mass of the Earth = 5.97 x 10 24kg
Distance between the center of the durian and the center of the Earth = 6.37 x 106 m

m1 = 2.0
kg
m2 = 5.97 x 10 24
r = 6.37 x 10 6 m
kg
G = 6.67 x 10 -11
Nm2kg 𝑮-2m m
1 2
𝑭=
𝒓𝟐
F = (6.67 x 10-11) x 2.0 x 5.97 x 1024
(6.37 x 106)2
= 19.63 N

11
 22/8/2025

Example 2
A rocket at a launching pad
experiences a gravitational force of
4.98 × 105 N. What is the mass of the
rocket?
[Mass of the Earth = 5.97 × 1024 kg,
distance between the centre of the
Earth andx the
F = 4.98 105 centre of the rocket =
6.37 × 10 6 m]
m = 5.97 x 1024 kg
1
m2 = ?
r = 6.37 x 106 m
G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2
4.98 x 105 = (6.67 x 10-11) x 5.97 x 1024 x m2
𝑮 m1m2 (6.37 x 106)2
𝑭= m2 = (4.98 x 105)(6.37 x 106)2
𝒓𝟐
6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024
= 5.07 x 104 kg

Imagine you and your friend are bodies on Earth.

.
Your mass m1 = 55 kg, and your friend,m2 = 65 kg.
Calculate the gravitational force, F if the
distance between both of you, r is 2.0 m

𝑮 m1 m2
𝑭=
𝒓𝟐
=
(6.67 x 10 −11)(55)(65) m2 = m1 =
65kg 55kg
= 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐𝟖 N
r = 2.0 m

12
 22/8/2025

Lets increase the value of the distance from 2 m to 4 m.

𝑮 m1m2
𝑭=
r = 4.0 m 𝒓𝟐
r = 2.0 m =
(6.67 x 10 −11)(55)(65)
= 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒𝟐𝟖 N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟐 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟒 , 𝑭 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
When the distance between
two bodies between them is
increase, The gravitational
force is more
Hence, decrease.
separation distance will result in
weaker gravitational forces

Change partners

r = 2.0 m 𝑮 m1m2
𝑭=
𝒓𝟐

=
(6.67 x 10 −11)(55)(75)
= 𝟔. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟐𝟖 N

m1 = 55 m2 = 75
kg kg

13
 22/8/2025

How do the masses of two bodies influence the

gravitational force between them?

r = 2.0 m
𝒊𝒇 𝒎𝟐 = 𝟔𝟓 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
𝒊𝒇 𝒎𝟐 = 𝟕𝟓 , 𝑭 = 𝟔. 𝟖𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
When the masses is increase, the
gravitational force between them
will also be increase.

m1 = 55 m2 = 75
kg kg

What is the effect of distance between two bodies on gravitational force

between them?

r = 4.0 m

r = 2.0 m 𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟐 , 𝑭 = 𝟓. 𝟗𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟒 , 𝑭 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟖
N
When the distance between two
bodies between them is increase,
The gravitational force is decrease.

Hence, more separation distance will

result in weaker gravitational forces.

14
 22/8/2025

Why is the magnitude of gravitational force between

you and your friend is small?

The masses between two bodies of small mass

has a very small magnitude.

The larger the mass of the

body, the larger the F2 > F 1
gravitational force.

The larger distance between the

bodies, the smaller the
F2 < F 1
gravitational force.

15
 22/8/2025

ACCELERATION CAUSED
BY GRAVITATIONAL FORCE
According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion,
gravitational force can be expressed as F = mg
g=F/m
Newton’s Third Law of Motion says that forces
occurs in action-reaction pairs.

16
 22/8/2025

ACCELERATION CAUSED BY
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE
The force of gravitation between the moon and the earth is approximately 2 ×
10 𝑁. Calculate the acceleration of the Earth and Moon caused by this force.
Compare the accelerations

17
22/8/2025

18
 22/8/2025

GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

• Complex systems like the solar systems involves a number of objects that are all
exerting attractive forces on each other at the same time
• A gravitational field is a region in which a gravitational force is exerted on all matter
within that region.
• The gravitational field around a large object such as a planet is much more significant
than that around a small object.

𝐹 =m×g can be used to find

gravitational field strength.

g=F/m

19
 22/8/2025

In theory gravitational field extends infinitely out into the space.

However since gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of distance,

these fields become so negligible.

20
 22/8/2025

Newton 2nd Law of Motion Gravitational force

𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂 𝑮 Mm
𝒂 = 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑭=
𝑭 = 𝒎𝒈 𝒓𝟐

EQUAL

EQUAL
𝑮 Mm
𝒎𝒈 =
𝒓𝟐

𝑮M
𝒈= 𝒈α𝑮
𝒓𝟐

1. What is the relationship between gravitational

acceleration, g and gravitational constant, G?

𝑮M
𝒈= 𝒈α𝑮
𝒓𝟐

g directly proportional to G

21
 22/8/2025

2. What are the factors that influence the value of

gravitational acceleration?
Mass of an object
Distance of the object

To discuss the variation in the values of g

with r
 Mass of the Earth
m = 5.97 x 1024 kg
 Radius of the Earth
 R = 6.37 x 106 m
 Gravitational constant,
G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2
1. Calculate the value of
gravitational acceleration for the
five distances.

22
 22/8/2025

Distance from centre Gravitational acceleration,

of the Earth, r
R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 9.8
R2 (6.37 x 106)2
2R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 2.45
R2 (2 x 6.37 x 106)2
3R GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 1.09
R2 (3 x 6.37 x 106)2
GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 0.6125
4R R2 (4 x 6.37 x 106)2
GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024 = 0.392
5R R2 (5 x 6.37 x 106)2

1. What is the value of gravitational

acceleration on the Earth’s surface?
9.8 ms-2

2. Plot a graph of g against r.

23
 22/8/2025

Graph shows the variation of

gravitational acceleration
with the distance from the
centre of the Earth

1. How does the value of gravitational 2. How does the value of gravitational
acceleration change when the distance acceleration change when the distance
from the centre of the Earth r < R? from the centre of the Earth increases
(r ≥ R)?
Directly proportional
Inversely proportional

24
 22/8/2025

5. Mass of the Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg and

radius of the Earth is 6.37 x 106 m.
Calculate gravitational acceleration on
the surface of the Earth.

GM = 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024

R2 (6.37 x 106)2
g = 9.8 ms-2

6. A radar imaging satellite orbits around the

Earth at a height of 480 km. What is the value
of gravitational acceleration at the position of
the satellite?

 Mass of the Earth, M = 5.97 x 1024 kg

 Radius of the Earth, R = 6.37 x 106 m
 Gravitational constant,
G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2kg-2
h = 480 km = 480 000 m
g = . GM .
(R + h)2
= 6.67 x 10-11 x 5.97 x 1024
(6.37 x 106 + 4.8 x 105)2
g = 8.49 ms-2

25
22/8/2025

26
 22/8/2025

WORK IN A GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

Gravitational Potential Energy is directly proportional to the mass
of the object , m, its height above the surface of a planet , ∆h,
and the strength of the gravitational field.

Where,
𝐸 = 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 , 𝐽
𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡
𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ , 9.80 N/kg
∆ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

The formula for gravitational potential energy is developed from

work-energy theorem , which assumes that work done against the
force of gravity os converted into potential energy.

27
 22/8/2025

• The gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the mass of the

object , m, its heaight above the surface of a planet and strength of the
gravitational field.
• 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔∆ℎ
• ∆𝐸 = 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠

• When combined with concepts of kinetic energy and

conservation of mechanical energy, they allow the
speed of falling object to be determined.
• We can define kinetic energy by the following
equation:

1
𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣
2

28
 22/8/2025

MOTION IN A GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

Normal force

• When an object exerts a force on the surface , the surface exerts a

reaction force on the object that is normal at right angle to the surface.

• Another way of viewing the forces on the inclined plane is

to resolve the weight vectors into two components : one
perpendicular to the slope and the other one is parallel to
the slope.
• The component perpendicular to the surface is balanced
by the normal force 𝐹

Normal force on the inclined plane

will be less than the weight of the
object.

29
22/8/2025

30
 22/8/2025

FRICTIONAL FORCE

• Force that acts on the opposite direction of motion

The forces acting parallel to the inclined would be frictional

force , f and the horizontal component of the weight

𝐹 = 𝐹 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

31