Gravitational_Force_Flashcards
(9 cards)
What does ‘RE’ mean in physics?
RE stands for the radius of Earth — the distance from the center of Earth to its surface.
What is the formula for gravitational force?
F = G * M * m / r^2 (Where G is the gravitational constant, M is Earth’s mass, m is the object’s mass, and r is the distance from Earth’s center.)
What happens to gravity as you move farther from Earth?
Gravity becomes weaker. It decreases with the square of the distance from Earth’s center.
What distance is used when calculating gravitational force?
The distance from the center of the Earth to the object, not just how high it is above the ground.
What’s the ratio of gravity in orbit vs on Earth’s surface?
(RE / (RE + h))^2 (h is the height above Earth)
Why does Hubble feel less gravity than we do?
Because it’s farther from Earth’s center, and gravity gets weaker the farther you go.
How do you compare gravitational strength in orbit and on Earth?
Plug in the values into (RE / (RE + h))^2 to find how much weaker gravity is in orbit.
What level of thinking is used when you plug values into the gravity formula?
Applying — you’re using what you learned in a real-world situation.
What level of thinking is it when you break the gravity formula into parts to compare?
Analyzing — you’re understanding how each part affects the answer.
