Gravitational Force - AP Physics 1

Provides necessary centripetal force. Earth's gravity supplies the centripetal acceleration for orbital motion.

Keeps planets in orbit. Solar gravity provides centripetal force maintaining planetary orbital motion.

Keeps planets in orbit. Solar gravity provides centripetal force maintaining planetary orbital motion.

Towards the center of the masses. Gravity always pulls objects toward each other's centers.

Distance between the centers of masses. Distance measured from center to center, not surface to surface.

Force triples. Force is directly proportional to each mass individually.

Every mass attracts every other mass. Newton's law applies universally to all objects with mass.

Mass of the second object. Second object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Attractive force. Gravity always pulls objects together, never pushes them apart.

Force doubles. Force is directly proportional to each mass in the equation.

Provides necessary centripetal force. Earth's gravity supplies the centripetal acceleration for orbital motion.

$F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$. Newton's universal gravitation formula relating force to masses and distance squared.

Gravitational constant. Universal constant that makes the gravitational formula dimensionally consistent.

$6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N m}^2/\text{kg}^2$. Standard value of the universal gravitational constant.

N m²/kg². Derived from force units divided by mass squared times distance squared.

Force is quartered. Force varies as $1/r^2$, so doubling distance reduces force by factor of 4.

$6.674 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N}$. Substituting $m_1 = m_2 = 1$ kg, $r = 1$ m into Newton's formula.

Mass of the first object. First object's mass in the gravitational force equation.

Directly proportional. Larger masses produce stronger gravitational forces.

Greater mass, stronger attraction. More massive objects exert stronger gravitational pulls.

Force quadruples. Each mass doubles, creating a $2 \times 2 = 4$ factor increase.

Approximately $9.8 \text{ N}$. Weight of 1 kg object equals mass times Earth's surface gravity.

Causes tidal forces. Moon's gravity creates differential forces causing ocean tides.

Both objects have mass. Only objects with mass can exert or experience gravitational force.

$4.00 \times 10^{-10} \text{ N}$. Using the gravitational force formula with the specified masses and distance.

Inversely proportional to $r^2$. Force decreases rapidly as distance increases due to square relationship.

Varies with planetary mass and radius. Different planetary properties create different gravitational field strengths.

Potential energy depends on force and distance. Potential energy is the integral of force over distance.

Centripetal force maintaining orbit. Gravitational attraction provides the inward force needed for circular motion.