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Gravitational Fields

Gravitational field strength

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit A2 2

Overview

Gravitational field strength and mass and weight.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Evaluation

Give the equation defining gravitational field strength and define each symbol.

Evaluation

State the unit of gravitational field strength.

Key term

Show that N kg⁻¹ is equivalent to m s⁻².

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define gravitational field strength.

    Model answer

    Gravitational field strength is the gravitational force acting per unit mass on a small test mass placed at that point in the field.

  2. 2

    Give the equation defining gravitational field strength and define each symbol.

    Model answer

    g = F/m, where g is the gravitational field strength in N kg⁻¹, F the gravitational force in newtons and m the mass in kilograms.

  3. 3

    State the unit of gravitational field strength.

    Model answer

    The newton per kilogram, N kg⁻¹.

  4. 4

    Show that N kg⁻¹ is equivalent to m s⁻².

    Model answer

    A newton is 1 kg m s⁻², so N kg⁻¹ is kg m s⁻² divided by kg, which is m s⁻².

  5. 5

    Why is gravitational field strength numerically equal to the acceleration of free fall?

    Model answer

    For a freely falling body the only force is the weight mg, so by Newton's second law the acceleration is g, the same number as the field strength.

  6. 6

    Is gravitational field strength a vector or a scalar?

    Model answer

    A vector, directed towards the mass producing the field.

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