Gravitational Theory, Study notes of Physics

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SciDo

From GCSE & mechanics, we know that force c

due to gravity (weight) is:

W = m × g

But does this apply if we move something far

away from Earth?

No! If we move something far away, then the

gravitational field strength is weaker. This

only apply for distances that are small

compared to the Earth’s radius.

Weight

SciDo c Newton’s law of gravitation

Gravitational Potential Understanding Gravitational Potential Energy in a Field Gravitational potential is a concept used to describe the energy per unit mass associated with an object due to the gravitational field of another massive object, such as a planet or a star. It is a scalar quantity that helps determine how much work is required to move a mass within the gravitational field. The gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field is defined as: work done to move an object from infinity to a certain point.

Escape Velocity Definition: Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must have to completely escape the gravitational influence of a massive body without any further propulsion. It is simply the minimum kinetic energy required to project an object from the surface of the planet to infinity (Gravity Zero)