IB PHYSICS
Topic 10: Fields (HL)
See the guide for this topic.
10.1 – Describing fields
Gravitational fields
A gravitational field is a space where a small test mass experiences a force due to
another mass.
Electrostatic fields
An electrostatic field is a space where a small positive test charge experiences a force
per unit charge.
Electric potential and gravitational potential
Electric potential
The electric potential is given by
or
The electric potential di!erence is also known as voltage.
See section 10.2 (potential di!erence) for further explanation.
Gravitational potential
The gravitational potential due to an object with mass M is given by
The gravitational potential at a point P is equal to work done per unit mass
required to take a test mass from infinity to point P.
Gravitational potential is always negative.
The gravitational potential at infinity is zero.
To calculate the gravitational potential due to multiple masses, simply add up the
gravitational potential due to the individual masses.
Field lines
See next section (equipotential surfaces)
Equipotential surfaces
Points with the same gravitational potential can be joined together to form an
equipotential surface
Field lines are normal (perpendicular) to the equipotential surfaces.
The density of field lines is proportional to the field strength.
Far from the earth, the field line separation changes as the gravitational field
strength changes. However, near the surface of the earth, the value of the
gravitational field strength is relatively constant with height as long as the change
of height is not too great.
10.2 – Fields at work
Potential and potential energy
Electric potential
See previous section (electric potential and gravitational potential)
Electric potential energy
The electric potential energy is given by
were k is Coulomb’s constant, Q is the fixed charge, q is the test charge, and r is the
radius.
The electric potential energy can be defined as the capacity for doing work by a
change in position of the positive test charge.
Electric potential is also known as voltage.
Gravitational potential
See previous section (electric potential and gravitational potential)
Gravitational potential energy
The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects with mass M and m is
given by
The gravitational potential energy of an object at a point P is equal to the work
done required to take the object from infinity to the point P.
As gravitational forces are attractive, the work done required to bring an object
from infinity to any point is negative. Thus, gravitational potential energy is always
negative.
Potential gradient
The gravitational potential gradient of a gravitational field is given by ΔV/Δr where
ΔV is the change in gravitational potential between two points and Δr is the
distance between those two points.
It is the slope of a graph which plots the gravitational potential against the
distance from the mass.
Gravitational potential gradient is related to the gravitational field strength (g) by
g=-ΔV/Δr=GM/r^2.
Potential di!erence
The potential di!erence is defined as the work done by moving a positive test
charge from one point to another in an electric field.
Potential di!erence across an electrical component, also called voltage, is
required to make a current flow through it. Cells or batteries provide the potential
di!erence required.
Escape speed
The escape speed of a planet is given by
where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and R is the radius of
the planet.
Escape speed it the minimum speed required for an object launched from the
surface of a planet to reach infinity.
An object launched at or above its escape speed will not return to the planet due
to gravity.
Orbital motion, orbital speed and orbital energy
Orbital motion
Gravitation provides the centripetal force for orbital motion. For example, the
gravitational force between the sun and the earth provides the centripetal force for
the earth to orbit the sun.
The period of orbital motion is proportional to the average radius of the orbital
motion by Kepler’s third law.
Orbital speed
The orbital speed is given by
where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and r is the radius of
the planet.
Orbital energy
The kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and total energy of an orbiting
satellite is given by
Kinetic energy
Potential energy
Total energy = Kinetic energy + Gravitational potential energy
Forces and inverse-square law behaviour
Inverse-square law graphical representation
Gravitational field
Electric field
Share this:
! Facebook " Twitter # Reddit $ LinkedIn % Tumblr & Pinterest 1
' Pocket ( Email ) Print
Like this:
Like
One blogger likes this.
