2. (a) What are meant by gravitational potential and gravitational field? How far away from the earth does the acceleration due to gravity become 10% of its value on the earth’s surface? NB:The radius of the earth is 6370 km. (b) What is meant by escape velocity? Show that the escape velocity from the surface of earth is √2 times the velocity of projection of an artificial satellite orbiting close around the earth. Obtain the escape velocity of an atmospheric particle 100 km above the earth’s surface. Given that ME = 5.98 × 1024 kg, RE = 6370 km, G = 6.67 × 10-11 N.m2 /kg2 .
Gravitational force
In nature, every object is attracted by every other object. This phenomenon is called gravity. The force associated with gravity is called gravitational force. The gravitational force is the weakest force that exists in nature. The gravitational force is always attractive.
Acceleration Due to Gravity
In fundamental physics, gravity or gravitational force is the universal attractive force acting between all the matters that exist or exhibit. It is the weakest known force. Therefore no internal changes in an object occurs due to this force. On the other hand, it has control over the trajectories of bodies in the solar system and in the universe due to its vast scope and universal action. The free fall of objects on Earth and the motions of celestial bodies, according to Newton, are both determined by the same force. It was Newton who put forward that the moon is held by a strong attractive force exerted by the Earth which makes it revolve in a straight line. He was sure that this force is similar to the downward force which Earth exerts on all the objects on it.
2. (a) What are meant by gravitational potential and gravitational field? How far away from
the earth does the acceleration due to gravity become 10% of its value on the earth’s
surface? NB:The radius of the earth is 6370 km.
(b) What is meant by escape velocity? Show that the escape velocity from the surface of earth
is √2 times the velocity of projection of an artificial satellite orbiting close around the earth.
Obtain the escape velocity of an atmospheric particle 100 km above the earth’s surface. Given
that ME = 5.98 × 1024 kg, RE = 6370 km, G = 6.67 × 10-11 N.m2
/kg2
.
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