Sunday 8 February 2015

FORM 4: 2.8 UNDERSTANDING GRAVITY

THE MEANING OF FREE FALL

An object is falling freely when it is falling under the force of gravity only (free from the influence of other forces).
Two objects of different masses that are released simultaneously falling freely with the same acceleration.

THE MEANING OF ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
Acceleration due to gravity is the acceleration of object falling freely.
Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m s-2

THE MEANING OF GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
Gravitational field is a region around the earth in which an object experiences a force towards the centre of the earth.

THE MEANING OF GRAVITATIONAL FIELD STRENGTH
The gravitational field strength at a point is defined as the gravitational force acting on a 1 kg mass placed at that point.

THE MEANING OF WEIGHT
The weight of an object is defined as the gravitational force acting on the object.
W = mg
W = weight
m = mass
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s-2 / 10.0 m s-2

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