Universal Law of Gravitation

Universal Law of gravitation was formulated by Sit Issac Newton.

It states that
Every body in the universe attracts every other body with a force which is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversly proportional to the square of
distance between them. The force acts along the line joining the two bodies

DERIVATION
Let us consider two objects of masses M  and m  that lie at a distance r  from each other as shown below in the figure

Let F  be the force of attraction between two objects P  and Q  .

Now according to the universal law of gravitation as stated earlier , this force F  is proportional to the product of masses of objects P  and Q  that is
F∝M×m ...............................               (1)
and the force is inversely proportional to the square of distance between these two objects that is
F∝ 1        ....................................         (2)
d2
Combining both equations (1) and (2) we get
F∝ Mm    ...................................         (3)
d2
or
F= GMm  .......................................    (4)
d2
Here G is the constant known as Universal Gravitational constant.
SI unit of gravitational constant G is Nm2 Kg−2  
Value of G was first found by Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) and it is
G=6.673×10−11 Nm 2 Kg −2  

Free Fall
The falling of a body from a height towards the earth under the gravitational force of earth is called free fall

1. When an object falls freely towards the earth there happens to be no change in the direction of motion
of the object but due to the attraction of earth there will be a change in the magnitude of velocity.
2. Change in velocity involves acceleration. So whenever the objects falls towards earth an acceleration is involved due to earth's gravitational force.
3. This acceleration due to earth's gravitational force is called acceleration due to gravity which is denoted by 'g' and its SI unit is m/s2

Calculation of value of g

Let us consider an object of mass m  falling freely under the influence of Earth's gravitational force.
Since the object is moving under the sole effect of gravity (free fall motion) then acceleration experienced .
by the object would be g which is the acceleration due to gravity of earth
Now from Newton's second law of motion , force experienced by this freely falling object would be
Fgrav= mg  ............................          (5)
Again from Universal law of gravitation force of gravity with which an object is attracted to earth is
Fgrav =GMearth×m      .......................           (6)
d 2
where d  is the distance from the center of the object to the center of the earth and M earth   is the mass of the earth.
Now from equations (5) and(6)   
we have ,
mg = GMearth×m
d 2
or
g= GMearth .......................................(7)
d 2
So if the object under consideration is very near to the surface of the earth or on the surface of the earth then .
we can approximate d ≈ R earth   where R earth   is the radius of the earth. So expression for g near or on the surface of the earth would be
g= GM earth    .........................     (8)
(R earth ) 2 

Now to calculate the value of g we shall put the values G=6.7×10 −11 Nm2 Kg−2  

R earth = 6.4×10 6 m 
M earth= 6×10 24 Kg 
So,
g= GM earth   ( Note- Substitute the values)
(R earth ) 2 

g=9.8ms −2  

MASS AND WEIGHT

Mass Weight
1. Mass is a property of an object 1. Weight depends on the effect of gravity.
The mass of an object is the same everywhere, Weight varies according to location
2. Mass can never be zero. 2. Weight can be zero if no gravity acts upon an
object, as in space.
3. Mass does not change according to location 3. Weight increases or decreases with higher or
lower gravity
4. Mass is a scalar quantity. It has magnitude. 4. Weight is a vector quantity. It has magnitude
and is directed toward the center of the Earth
5. Mass may be measured using an ordinary 5. Weight is measured using a spring balance.
balance.
6. Mass usually is measured in grams and 6. Weight often is measured in Newtons, a unit of
kilograms force.

WEIGHT OF AN OBJECT ON THE SURFACE OF MOON

Show that weight of an object on the moon is 1/6 th of its weight on the Earth.

Consider an object of mass m. Let its weight on the moon be Wm.

Suppose that the mass of the moon is M and its radius is R.
Now, according to universal law of gravitation, the weight( force) of the object
on the moon will be
Weight on moon, Wm = GMm .......................... (1)
R2
Suppose the weight of the same object on the earth is WE.
Now, Mass of Earth (ME) = 100 times that of Moon (100 M)
Radius of Earth RE = 4 times that of moon ( 4R)

Now, Weight on Earth (WE )= G x 100M x m

( 4R)2
or WE = Gx 100 Mx m .......................... (2)
16 R 2

Now, dividing equation (1) by equation (2)

Wm = Gx Mxm x 16 R2
WE R2x Gx 100Mxm

or
Wm = 16
WE 100

or
Wm = 1
WE 6

or
Weight on moon = 1
Weight on Earth 6

ie, Weight on moon = 1/6 Weight on Earth