1.
Definition of Gravity: Gravity is the force of attraction that exists between any
two masses in the universe. It is responsible for keeping objects anchored to the
Earth and governs the motion of celestial bodies.
Key Points:
Gravity is a fundamental force in nature.
It is always attractive and acts along the line joining the two masses.
The force depends on the masses involved and the distance between them.
2. Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation: The gravitational force between two
objects is given by:
Where:
: gravitational force (in newtons, )
: gravitational constant
: masses of the two objects (in kilograms, )
: distance between the centers of the two masses (in meters, )
3. Gravity on Earth:
1. Acceleration Due to Gravity:
o Near the surface of the Earth, all objects experience a uniform
acceleration due to gravity, denoted as .
o .
2. Weight:
o Weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object by Earth.
W = mg ] Where:
o : weight (in newtons, )
o : mass of the object (in kilograms, )
o : acceleration due to gravity ()
Key Note: Mass is constant, but weight depends on the gravitational field strength.
4. Gravity in Space:
1. Microgravity:
o In orbit, objects experience microgravity due to free fall, even though
gravity is still acting on them.
2. Planetary Gravity:
o The gravitational acceleration varies on different planets depending on
their mass and radius.
o Example: Gravity on the Moon is that of Earth.
5. Effects of Gravity:
1. Tides:
o Caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth’s
oceans.
2. Orbital Motion:
o Gravity keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and moons around
planets.
3. Free Fall:
o Objects fall to the ground due to gravity.
o In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall at the same rate
regardless of their mass.
6. Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity:
Gravity is not just a force but the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and
energy.
Massive objects like planets and stars distort spacetime, creating what we
perceive as gravity.
7. Important Notes:
Gravity is weaker than other fundamental forces but acts over infinite
distances.
Gravitational forces decrease rapidly with distance, following the inverse-
square law.
Practice Problem: Calculate the gravitational force between two masses, and ,
separated by a distance of .
Solution: Given:
Gravitational Force = .
