Gravitational Fields A2

Question 1

What are the two types of fields

Answer 1

Radial and uniform

Question 2

What is the relationship between the force acting on an object and the distance between the two objects

Answer 2

Inverse square relationship

Question 3

What is gravitational field strength

Answer 3

Force per unit mass, this is what g is

Question 4

What is the gravitational field strength inside the earth

Answer 4

This follows a linear relationship as the distance is less than the radius of the earth

Question 5

What is gravitational potential

Answer 5

Energy per mass required to move the object from the gravitational field (to infinity)

Question 6

What is the gravitational potential at an infinite distance from the earth

Answer 6

0

Question 7

Why is gravitational potential negative as you get closer to the earth

Answer 7

This implies an attractive force

Question 8

What is the potential gradient

Answer 8

Rate of change of potential with respect to radius OR change in potential divided by change in radius

Question 9

What is the relationship between potential gradient and field strength

Answer 9

Field strength is the negative of potential gradient

Question 10

What is Kepler’s Law

Answer 10

Centripetal force = Gravitational force

Question 11

How to calculate the overall force acting on an object between two other objects

Answer 11

Take away one force from the other