Physics

Gravity Force Lab Part A

Objectives for Part A:

 Experiment with the simulation to discover how the force of gravity depends on the masses of m1 and m2.
 Experiment with the simulation to discover how the force of gravity depends on the distance between m1 and
m2 .

Open: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab/latest/gravity-force-lab_en.html

How does the force of gravity on m1 compare to the force of gravity on m2?

1. Collect data.
a. Try moving m1 and m2 and changing their masses.
b. Record the data in the following chart.
c. Make all forces that point to the right positive and all forces that point to the left negative.
d. The first row is filled out for you as an example.
m1 m2 d Fg1 Fg2
(kg) (kg) (m)  (-) (N) (+) →  (-) (N) (+) →
50 200 4.0 +4.1712 x 10-8 -4.1712 x 10-8

2. How does the magnitude of the force of gravity on m1 compare to the magnitude of the force of gravity on m2?

3. How does the direction of the force of gravity on m1 compare to the direction of the force of gravity on m2?

How does the force of gravity depend on mass?

4. Collect data on how the magnitude of the force of gravity depends on the mass of m1.
a. Only change the mass of m1, leave all the other variables the same.
b. Pick at least four, very different values for m1.
c. Record the data in the following chart. The first row is filled out for you as an example.
m1 m2 d Fg
(kg) (kg) (m) (N)
50 200 4.0 4.1712 x 10-8

5. Describe what happens to the force of gravity as the mass of m1 changes.

6. Graph the force of gravity as a function of the mass of m1.

a. Find the simplest mathematical model (curve fit) that fits your data.
1
Physics

b. Record the equation (including the numbers and units for all constants) here.
Fg =

7. Collect data on how the magnitude of the force of gravity depends on the mass of m2.
a. Only change the mass of m2, leave all other variables the same.
b. Pick at least four, very different values for m2.
c. Record the data in the following chart.
m1 m2 d Fg
(kg) (kg) (m) (N)

8. Describe what happens to the force of gravity as the mass of m2 changes.

9. Graph the force of gravity as a function of the mass of m2.

a. Find the simplest mathematical model (curve fit) that fits your data.
b. Record the equation (including the numbers and units for all constants) here.
Fg =

How does the force of gravity depend on distance?

10. Collect data on how the force of gravity depends on the distance, d, between m1 and m2.
a. Only change the distance, leave all other variables the same.
b. Pick at least four, very different distances.
c. Record the data in the following chart.
m1 m2 d Fg
(kg) (kg) (m) (N)

11. Describe what happens to the force of gravity on m1 as the distance changes.

12. Graph the force of gravity on m1 as a function of distance.

a. Find the simplest mathematical model (curve fit) that fits your data.
b. Record the equation (including the numbers and units for all constants) here.
Fg =

Part A Analysis Questions:

13. Use your own words to define the force of gravity.

14. When calculating the force of gravity, how do you measure the distance between two large masses?

15. How is the force of gravity between two objects related to their masses?

16. How is the force of gravity between two objects related to the distance between the objects?

2
Physics

Gravity Force Lab Part B

Objective for Part B:

 Develop a universal mathematical model for the force of gravity.

Simulation: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-force-lab/latest/gravity-force-lab_en.html

How can the force of gravity be modelled mathematically?

17. Write all three equations that you already found.

Fg as a function of m1 Fg as a function of m2 Fg as a function of d
Fg = Fg = Fg =

18. Combine all three equations to make a universal equation for the force of gravity.
a. Replace all the constants from each equation with one universal gravitational constant, called G. Fill in the
variables for the numerator and denominator.
b. Put all variables from the numerator (the top) of each equation in the numerator of the universal equation.
c. Put all variables from the denominator (the bottom) of each equation in the denominator of the universal
equation.
d. Record the numerator and denominator of the universal equation here (without any constants).
Fg = G _____________  numerator
 denominator

19. Find the universal gravitational constant, G.

a. Solve your equation for G. [Show your work.]

b. Calculate the value of G by plugging values for m1, m2, d, and Fg from the simulation into your equation.
[Show your work.]
G=

20. Use your equation to predict the Force of Gravity.

a. Pick values for m1, m2, and d
m1 m2 d
(kg) (kg) (m)

b. Use your equation for universal gravitation to predict the force of gravity on m1 and m2.
Prediction: Fg =

c. Use the simulation to test your prediction.

Simulation: Fg =

d. How close was your predicted value to the value in the simulation?

Part B Analysis Questions:

21. What is the universal equation for gravity?

3
Physics

22. What is value (number and units) of the universal gravitational constant, G?

23. If two basketballs sit one meter apart on the floor of a gym, would gravity pull them together? Explain.

24. Is there any situation where two objects would not experience a gravitational pull towards the other object?