Fields and their consequences Flashcards
What is a force field?
a force field is an area in which an object experiences a non-contact force
Are force fields a vector or scalar quantity?
vector
How can force fields be represented? What can the diagrams show
represented as diagrams containing field lines
the distance between/density of field lines represents the strength the force exerted by the field in that region
How can force fields be formed?
formed during the interaction of masses, static charge or moving charges
What are the two examples of fields and what interaction takes place?
gravitational- formed during the interaction of masses
electric- formed during the interaction of charges
What are some similarities of gravitational and electric fields? (3)
-forces both follow an inverse-square law
-uses field lines to be represented
-both have equipotential surfaces
What are some differences between gravitational and electric fields? (2)
-in gravitational fields, the force exerted it always attractive, while in electric fields the force can either be repulsive or attractive
-electric force acts on charge, while gravitational force acts on mass
State Newton’s law of gravity
gravity acts on any objects which have mass and is always attractive
What is Newton’s law of gravitation?
the magnitude of the gravitational force between two masses is directly proportional to the product of the masses and is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them (where distance is measured between the two centre of the masses
State the equation for Newton’s law of gravitation
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2
where:
f= force (N)
G= gravitational constant
m1 & m2= masses (kg)
r= distance between centres of masses (m)
What are the two types of gravitational fields?
radial and uniform
Draw a diagram of the two types of gravitational fields. Explain why the field lines are situated in a certain way
https://cdn.savemyexams.com/cdn-cgi/image/w=640,f=auto/uploads/2020/10/13.1.1.2-Gravitational-field-lines.png
-a uniform field exerts the same gravitational force on a mass everywhere in the field ie. why the field lines are parallel and equal
-in a radial field, the force exerted depends on the position of the object in the field (as the object moves further away from the field the magnitude of the force would decrease as the density of the field lines would increase)
How does gravitational field strength differ in both types of gravitational fields?
-constant in uniform field
-varied in radial field
What are the ways we can calculate gravitational field strength? When can one be used?
g= f/m (using w=mg)
g= GM/r^2 (for radial fields only)
where:
g= gravitational field strength (Nkg^-1)
G= gravitational constant
M= mass of body producing field (kg)
r= distance from mass where you are calculating field strength (m)
What is gravitational potential?
the work done per unit mass when moving an object from infinity to that point
State the equation for gravitational potential
V= -GM/r
where:
V= gravitational potential (Jkg^-1)
G= gravitational potential
M= mass of object causing the field (kg)
r= the distance between the centres of the objects (m)
Why is gravitational potential a negative value?
-it is defined as zero at infinity
-since gravitational force is attractive, work must be done on a mass to reach infinity
How can gravitational potential be used to find the work done when moving an object in a gravitational field?
ΔW= mΔV
where:
ΔW= change in work done (J)
m= mass (kg)
ΔV= change in gravitational potential (Jkg^-1)
What are equipotentials in gravitational fields?
regions of equal potential
What is something needed to know with equipotentials in general and gravitational potentials?
the gravitational potential difference is zero when moving along the surface so no work is done when moving along an equipotential surface
How can we show equipotential lines on a radial gravitational field diagram? What is something to know about the distances between each equipotential?
drawn in circles around the object, right angles to the field lines
the gravitational potential surfaces get further apart as one moves away from the planet
How can we show equipotential lines on a uniform gravitational field diagram? What is something to know about the distances between each equipotential?
perpendicular lines to field lines, distance between each equipotential is equal
How can we get the gravitational field strength at a certain distance from a gravitational potential-distance graph?
draw a tangent to the curve at that distance and calculate the gradient
How can we work out the gravitational potential difference from a gravitational field strength-distance graph?
finding the area under the curve