📚 Topic Summary
Gravitational field strength describes the force experienced by a mass due to gravity at a specific location. It's essentially the acceleration due to gravity ($g$) at that point. Near the Earth's surface, we often approximate $g$ as $9.8 \frac{m}{s^2}$, but it varies depending on the distance from the Earth's center. The gravitational field strength is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, always pointing towards the center of the mass creating the field.
Understanding gravitational field strength is crucial for analyzing the motion of objects in gravitational fields, such as satellites orbiting planets or projectiles near the Earth's surface. It allows us to calculate the gravitational force acting on an object and predict its trajectory.
🧮 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their definitions:
- Gravitational Field Strength
- Gravitational Constant
- Mass
- Weight
- Radius
- The force exerted on an object due to gravity.
- The amount of matter in an object.
- The distance from the center of a sphere to its surface.
- The force per unit mass experienced in a gravitational field.
- The fundamental constant in the law of universal gravitation, approximately $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \frac{N \cdot m^2}{kg^2}$.
Match the term to the definition. (Answers at the end)
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
The gravitational field strength, often denoted by ____, is a ____ quantity. It represents the ____ per unit ____ experienced at a specific location in a gravitational field. Near the Earth's surface, this value is approximately ____. The direction of the gravitational field strength always points toward the ____ of the object creating the field.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Imagine you are on a planet with twice the mass and twice the radius of Earth. How would the gravitational field strength at its surface compare to that on Earth? Explain your reasoning using the formula for gravitational field strength.