Universal gravitation- Flashcard

Front

What is the law of universal gravitation?

Back

The law of universal gravitation states that every point mass attracts every other point 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. The formula is F = G(M1M2)/d^2.

Front

How does the distance between two objects affect the gravitational force between them?

Back

The gravitational force between two objects decreases as the distance between them increases. Specifically, the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (F ∝ 1/d^2).

Front

What is the formula to calculate the gravitational field strength (g) at the surface of a planet?

Back

The gravitational field strength (g) at the surface of a planet can be calculated using the formula g = GM/r^2, where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and r is the radius of the planet.

Front

What is the value of the gravitational constant (G)?

Back

The gravitational constant (G) is approximately 6.674 × 10^-11 N(m/kg)^2.

Front

What happens to the gravitational force if the mass of one of the objects is doubled?

Back

If the mass of one of the objects is doubled, the gravitational force between the two objects also doubles, since the force is directly proportional to the product of their masses.

Front

Why do astronauts feel weightless in space?

Back

Astronauts feel weightless in space because they are in free fall, experiencing a continuous state of free fall towards Earth, which creates the sensation of weightlessness.

Front

At what point is the gravitational force on an object greatest?

Back

The gravitational force on an object is greatest at the surface of the Earth.

Front

What is the relationship between mass and weight?

Back

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on that mass. Weight can be calculated using the formula W = mg, where m is mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Front

How does the gravitational force between two objects change if the distance between them is halved?

Back

If the distance between two objects is halved, the gravitational force between them increases by a factor of four, since the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (F ∝ 1/d^2).

Front

What is the effect of gravity on a bungee jumper during free fall?

Back

During free fall, a bungee jumper experiences a lack of support force, which leads to the sensation of weightlessness as they fall.