12A 1st Sem 2017-2018 Gravity and Circular Motion

Physics Grade: 12 Advanced Unit: 1(Gravity & Circular motion) muhammadlutfieid@hotmail.
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Physics Grade: 12 Advanced Unit: 1(Gravity & Circular motion) muhammadlutfieid@hotmail.com Page 1 of 68
Unit One
Gravity and Circular Motion
The Circular Motion
 The Circular Motion: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uniform Circular Motion Non-uniform Circular Motion

The object cuts equal arcs in equal time intervals The object cuts unequal arcs (angles) in equal
or the object cleans equal angles in equal time time intervals or the object cleans equal arcs
intervals (angles) in unequal time intervals
The length of the rotational radius remains the
The length of the rotational radius changes
same
The rotational velocity is constant in magnitude The rotational velocity is changeable in both
but its direction is changeable magnitude and direction
The object has both centripetal acceleration and
The object just has a centripetal acceleration
tangential acceleration
 Uniform Circular Motion: -----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
r: The radius of the circular motion (meter: m)

ν: The linear velocity or the linear speed (linear comes from the
straight line) or the tangential velocity or the tangential speed
(tangential comes from the tangent of the circumference of the
circle at a specific point) (meter per second: m/sec = m.sec-1)
* (v) is always perpendicular to the radius
* In uniform circular motion (v) has a constant magnitude but
changeable direction, so the object cuts same angles (arcs) in
equal time intervals
* In non-uniform circular motion (v) has changeable magnitude
and direction, so the object cuts different angles (arcs) in equal
time intervals
Example(1): Select the correct answer that best answers the statement.
1) What we call the motion of an object in a circular path with a steady

speed?
 Uniform linear motion

 Uniform simple motion
 Non uniform circular motion
 Uniform circular motion
2) What CD player, Satellite and spin dryer all are using?
 Linear motion
 Uniform motion
 Simple motion
 Circular motion
3) When an object moves in a uniform circular motion?
 When the object moves in a straight line at a constant speed

 When the object moves in a circle for a long time interval
 When the object moves in a circle and cuts same angles in equal time
intervals
 When the object moves in a circle with deceleration
4) A child whirls a ball at the end of a rope in a uniform circular motion.
Which the following statement is NOT true?
 The speed of the ball is constant

 The velocity of the ball is constant
 The radius is constant
 The magnitude of the ball’s acceleration is constant
Example(2): Compare in the next table between a uniform circular motion and non-
uniform circular motion.
Uniform circular motion Non-uniform circular motion
To study the uniform circular motion we should know the following concepts:
(1) The linear displacement or the linear distance (S): ------------------------------------------
* The linear displacement is measured in (meter: m)

* The linear displacement can be calculated from the following rule:
t: the time taken in motion (second: sec)
(2) The angular displacement or the angular distance (θ): -------------------------------------
*The angular displacement is measured in (radian: rad)

*The angular displacement can be calculated from the following rules:
or
n: The number of rotations or the number of revolutions or the number of cycles

or the number of turns or the number of oscillations (revolution: rev)
* Radian: The angle of rotation in a uniform circular motion when the object
moves a linear distance (S) round the circle equals to its radius (r)
*If (S = r), so (θ = 1 rad≈57.3o)

𝛑
*To convert the angle from degrees to radians, we multiply by ( )
𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝟏𝟖𝟎
*To convert the angle from radians to degrees, we multiply by ( )
𝛑
Example(3): Why we use radian to measure the angles?
1) (θ) in radians is simpler than in degrees

For example it is easier and more accurate to say (θ=5 rad) than to say
(θ≈286.5o)
2) For small angles in radians: θ ≈ sinθ ≈ tanθ
For example if (θ=0.5 rad) its sine in radians is (sinθ=0.48 rad≈0.5 rad) and its
tangent in radians is (tanθ=0.55 rad≈0.5 rad).
Example(4): Convert (3 rad) to degrees. (Answer: ≈172o)
θ=
Example(5): Convert (345o) to radians. (Answer: ≈6 rad)
θ=
1) How much an angle of 2300 is equal in radians?
 1 rad
 3.14 rad
 4.01 rad
 6.28 rad
2) How many degrees are there in two radians?
 0.035o
 57o
 114.6o
 360o
3) How much an angle of 3.14 rad is equal in degrees?
 3600
 2700
 1800
 470
4) Which of the following is true for small angles in radians?
 θ ≈ sinθ ≈ cosθ
 θ ≈ sinθ ≈ tanθ
 θ ≈ cosθ ≈ tanθ
 sinθ ≈ cosθ ≈ tanθ
5) A steering wheel is rotated through 128°, as shown in Figure. Its radius
is 22 cm. How far would a point on the steering wheel’s edge move?
 28.16 m
 5.8 m
 0.49 m
 0.18 m
6) In the figure below, an object is moving in a uniform circular motion.

The length of arc AB is )0.300 m(. What’s the magnitude for angle ()?
 0.03 rad
 1.5 rad
 172o
 114o
7) What is the measure of the angle of rotation in radians as the minute
hand of a clock moves through 40 minutes?
 23 radians
4
 3 radians
2π
 3
radians
4π
 3
radians
Example(7): How much the angle of rotation in radians does the seconds hand in a
watch do when it rotates as in the next figure? (Answer: ≈4.71 rad)
Example(8): A solid sphere of 5 mm radius rolls without slipping along 25 cm a

frictionless horizontal track. How many revolutions did the sphere do?
(Answer: ≈8 revolutions)
(3) The time period (T): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The time period is measured in (second: sec)

*The time period can be calculated from the following rules:
or
1) The next figure represents an object moves in a circular path of 300 m

radius. If the object takes 4 sec to travel from A to B, what is the
tangential speed of the object?
 1200 m/sec
 471 m/sec
 236 m/sec
 75 m/sec
Example(10): A fan takes 6.4 min to make 2400 rotations, find its time period.
(Answer: 0.16 sec)
Example(11): An object with a speed of 10 m/sec in a circular motion. If the circle has a
radius of 20 m, what would the time period of the object be?
(Answer: ≈12.6 sec)
Example(12): A racing car completes one cycle in 11 sec at a constant speed around a
circular track, with a radius of 70 m. What is the speed of the car?
(Answer: 40 m/sec)
Example(13): The moon takes 27.5 days to complete one cycle around Earth and it is
385000 km from it. Find the rotational speed of the moon around Earth.
(Answer: 1018 m/sec)
Example(14): A particle moves at 4.0 revolution per 1 second in a circle of radius 0.28
m. What is the linear velocity of the particle? (Answer: ≈7 m/sec)
(4) The Frequency (f): --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The frequency is measured in (revolution per second: rev/sec = rev.sec-1=rps) or

(Hertz: Hz).
*The frequency can be calculated from the following rules:
or or
1) An object has a frequency of 0.50 Hz. What is the time period (T) of it?
 0.50 sec
 0.10 sec
 1.00 sec
 2.00 sec
2) On an average, a human heart is found to beat 72 times in a minute.
What is the frequency of heart beat?
 0.83 Hz
 1.2 Hz
 21 Hz
 420 Hz
3) In the diagram an object rotate in circular motion, if the time needed
from (B) to (D) equal (2 sec). What is its frequency?
 0.25 Hz
 0.5 Hz
 2 Hz
 4 Hz
Example(16): An object makes 300 oscillations per minute, calculate the object’s:
(a) Frequency. (Answer: 5 Hz)
(b) Time period. (Answer: 0.2 sec)
(5) The angular velocity or the angular speed or the angular frequency (ω):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The angular velocity is measured in (radian per second: rad/sec = rad.sec-1).

* The frequency can be calculated from the following rules:
Or Or Or
1) What is the unit of the angular frequency?
 rad/sec2
 rad/sec
 Hz
 m/sec
2) Which of the following formula can be used to calculate the angular
frequency?
 f = 2πω
1
f=T
n
f= t
ω
 f = 2π
3) Which one of the following formulas represents the correct equation to

calculate the angular frequency (angular velocity) (ω) of the uniform
circular motion?
 ω=2πT
2π
 ω= T
1
 ω=T
T
 ω=2π
4) In the next figure all the points (A,B,D and E) turn together along the
same radius, so:
 They all have the same angular speed and the same linear speed
 They all have the same angular speed, but the point
(E) has the fastest linear speed
 They all have the same linear speed, but the point
(A) has the fastest angular speed
 Each point has a different angular speed and
different linear speed
5) What is the period of a carousel with an angular velocity of 2.6 rad/sec?
 2.4 sec
 2.6 sec
 6.3 sec
 16.3 sec
6) A ventilation fan has blades 0.30 m in radius rotating at 20 rev/min,
what is the tangential speed of each blade tip?
 0.63 m/sec
 6.0 m/sec
 37.7 m/sec
 66.7 m/sec
7) A car wheel turns through (π) radians in (0.2) seconds. What is its
angular speed?
 3.14 rad/sec
 1.57 rad/sec
 15.7 rad/sec
 31.4 rad/sec
8) In a compact disc player, as the read head moves from the center
toward the edge of the disc, the angular velocity of the disc changes so
that the linear velocity at the point of the read head remains at 1.3
m/sec. What is the angular velocity of the compact disc when the read
head is 4.8 cm from the axis of rotation?
 0.037 rad/sec
 0.271 rad/sec
 6.24 rad/sec
 27.1 rad/sec
Example(18): An object moves in a circle. It completes one full rotation in 2 sec.
Calculate its angular velocity. (Answer: 3.14 rad/sec)
Example(19): A train is traveling at 50 m/sec around a curve of radius 600 m. What is

the angular speed? (Answer: 0.083 rad/sec)
Example(20): An object moves in a circular path of 5 m radius and makes angular

displacement of 3 rad in 2 s. Find the following for the object:
(a) The angular Frequency. (Answer: 1.5 rad/sec)
(b) The Frequency. (Answer: 0. 24 Hz)
(c) The time period. (Answer: 4.2 sec)
(d) The linear speed. (Answer: 7.5 m/sec)
Example(21): The second hand on a watch is 1.5cm long. Calculate:
(a) The hand’s frequency. (Answer: 0.017 Hz)
(b) The speed of the hand’s free end. (Answer: 1.57x10-3 m/sec)
(c) The hand’s angular frequency. (Answer: 0.1 rad/sec)
(6) The centripetal acceleration (ac): -----------------------------------------------------------------
*The centripetal acceleration is measured in (meter per second squared:

m/sec2=m.sec-2)
*The centripetal acceleration can be calculated from the following rules:
Or
*The centripetal acceleration comes from the changing in the

direction of the linear speed that moves in a circular motion.
*The centripetal acceleration always directed toward the center of the circular motion.
*The centripetal acceleration always perpendicular to the linear speed.
*In non-uniform circular motion, the object has both centripetal acceleration and
tangential acceleration.
1) Why the object moving at a constant speed in a circle is accelerating?
 Because the force acting on the object keeps changing

 Because the energy of the object keeps changing
 Because the direction of the motion of the object keeps changing
 Because the radius of the path of the object keeps changing
2) In which direction does the acceleration of the object that is moving in a
circle go?
 Along the tangent of the circle

 Toward the center of the circle
 Along the circumference of the circle
 Along the radius of the circle
3) If the object moves in non-uniform circular motion. Does it has

acceleration?
 It just has a centripetal acceleration

 It just has a tangential acceleration
 It has both centripetal acceleration and tangential acceleration
 It has no centripetal acceleration and no tangential acceleration
4) What will happen to the centripetal acceleration of the object that is
moving in a circle if its speed is doubled?
 It will remain the same

 It will be doubled
 It will be quadrupled
 It will be halved
5) The ball in the picture is undergoing uniform circular motion. What will
be the effect on the centripetal acceleration if the speed of the ball
tripled?
 ac will be 13 as large
 ac will not change
 ac will be 3 times larger
 ac will be 9 times larger
6) A stone of mass (m) is attached to an inextensible string and whirled in
a horizontal circle of radius (r) at a constant speed (v), what is the
acceleration of the mass (m)?
 v2r
 ω2r
v
r
ω2
 r
7) What is the centripetal acceleration of merry-go of arm 2m and

tangential speed 0.5 m/sec?
 0.125 m/sec2
 0.250 m/sec2
 0.500 m/sec2
 0.752 m/sec2
8) A ball is attached to a string and rotates at 2.0 m/sec constant speed
along horizontal circle of 0.5 m radius. What is the centripetal
acceleration of the ball?
 1.0 m/sec2
 2.0 m/sec2
 2.0 m/sec2
 8.0 m/sec2
9) In the diagram below. S is a point on a car tire rotating at a constant
rate.
Which graph best represents the magnitude of the centripetal

acceleration of points S as a function of time?
Example(23): Why does an object going around in circular path at a constant linear
speed have acceleration?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(24): An object moves in a circular path of 5 m radius and makes angular

displacement of 3 rad in 2 s. Find the centripetal acceleration of the
object. (Answer: 11.25 m/sec2)
Example(25): The Moon’s orbit around Earth has a radius of about 385000 km and a
time period of 27.3 days. Determine the acceleration of the moon
toward Earth. (Answer: 2.73x10-3 m/sec2)
Example(26): A child whirls a ball on a string in a horizontal circle of radius 1 m. How

many revolutions per minute must the ball make if its acceleration
toward the center of circle is to have the same magnitude as the
acceleration of gravity? (g=9.8 m/sec2) (Answer: 30 rev)
Example(27): A car is driving in a circle with a radius of 10.0 m at 14.0 m/sec.
(a) What is the acceleration of the car? (Answer: 19.6 m/sec2)
(b) What is the angular velocity of the car? (Answer: 1.4 rad/sec)
Example(28): A coin is placed on a loudspeaker of stereo record, which takes 30 s to

make a complete revolution. Assume that the coin has a speed of 5
cm/sec.
(a) What is the distance from the center of the loudspeaker of stereo
record to the coin? (Answer: 0.24 m)
(b) What is the acceleration of the coin? (Answer: 0.01 m/sec2)
Example(29): The combined mass of a car and its driver is 600 kg, traveling at
constant speed; the car completes one tap around a circular track of
radius 160 meters in 36 seconds. Calculate:
(a) The speed of the car. (Answer: ≈28 m/sec)
(b) The magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car.

(Answer: 4.87 m/sec2)
v2
Example(30): Prove that ac =
r
From similarity of the two triangles, we have:
r v
=
r v
By dividing the two sides on t:
r v
=
t r t v
v r
But: = a and =v
t t
v a
So: =
r v
v2
a=
r
Example(31): Use the diagram below to derive an expression for the centripetal
v2
acceleration (ac = )
r
(7) The centripetal force (Fc): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The centripetal force is measured in (Newton: N)

* The centripetal force can be calculated from the following rules:
Or Or
* The centripetal force always directed toward the center of

the circular motion, which means it is in the same direction
of the centripetal acceleration.
* The centripetal force always is perpendicular to the linear
speed, so it does not do work on the object.
* If the object loses its circular motion, it will continue moving in a straight line
with the direction of its speed at this moment under the effect of its inertia.
*Inertia: The tendency of the object to keep its state of motion and resist changing
in it.
* The centripetal force has many types:
1) What the object must have to keep it moving in a circular path?
 Resultant force
 Total work
 No acceleration
 No force
2) What is the unbalanced resultant force acting on the object that moving
in a circle is called?
 Tangential force
 Circumference force
 Centripetal force
 Radial force
3) As you rotate around a circle in a circular path by a car, you feel by
pushing outward because:
 There is outward centrifugal force acting on you

 Your body attempts to move in a straight line under the effect of inertia
 There is an outward reaction force on you against the inward
centripetal force
 The centripetal force pushes you outward in a circular path
4) What happens to an object moving in a circular path if the centripetal
force suddenly stops?
 The object will continue moving in the same circular path

 The object immediately will stop and fall
 The object will continue moving in a straight line along the direction of
the speed at this moment
 The object a bit will continue moving in the same circular path then
stop and fall
5) A satellite is in orbit around the Earth has a tangential velocity (v) as

shown in the next figure. In which direction does the tangential velocity
go?
 Same direction as the gravitational force

 Opposite direction to the gravitational field
 Perpendicular direction to the gravitational force
 Opposite direction to the centripetal acceleration
6) The following diagram shows an object (X) moves in a circular motion
suspended to a string. If the string breaks, which line best depicts the
subsequent path of the object?
A
B
C
D
7) A cart traveling at a constant speed in a horizontal circle. Which
statement correctly describes the direction of the carts velocity and
centripetal force in the position shown?
 Velocity is directed toward (B), and the centripetal force is directed toward (A)
 Velocity is directed toward (A), and the centripetal force is directed toward (D)
 Velocity is directed toward (C), and the centripetal force is directed toward (A)
 Velocity is directed toward (B), and the centripetal force is directed toward (D)
8) One of the following forces is not an example of the centripetal force:
 Gravitational force
 Nuclear force
 Electrostatic force
 Frictional force
9) The electron needs a centripetal force to keep in orbit around the

nucleus. What provides the centripetal force here?
 The nuclear force

 The electric force
 The magnetic force
 The gravitational force
10) What is the centripetal force that holds planets in their orbits?
 Friction force
 Electromagnetic force
 Nuclear force
11) What provides the centripetal force when a car is on a banked track as
shown in the figure below?
 The normal reaction force

 The force of friction
 The components of normal reaction force and force of friction
 The components of normal reaction force and the weight
12) An object with mass (m) in a uniform circular motion. The radius of the
circle is (r), the speed is (v) and the centripetal force is (F). If the mass,
radius and the speed all were double, what would the new centripetal
force requires to maintain uniform circular motion be?
F
2
F
 2F
 4F
13) A ball of mass (m) at the end of a string is swung in a horizontal

circular path of radius (r) at constant speed (V). Which combination of
changes would require the greatest increase in the centripetal force
acting on the ball?
 Doubling (V) and doubling (r)

 Doubling (V) and halving (r)
 Halving (V) and doubling (r)
 Halving (V) and halving (r)
14) A planet is moving around the Sun in a circular orbit of circumference
(C). What is the work done on the planet by the gravitational force (F)
of the Sun?
FC
2
 FC
0
F
C
15) The diagram below shows a satellite of mass (m) orbiting earth in a
circular path of radius (r). If a centripetal force (Fc) is acting on the
satellite, what is the speed of the satellite?
 mrFc
rF
 mc
rF
 √ mc
mFc
√ r
16) A driver of a 800 kg car tries to turn through a circle of radius 100 m on
an unbanked curve at a speed of 16 m/sec. The maximum frictional
force between the tires and the slippery road is 2000 N. What will
happen to the car?
 The car will make the turn

 The car will make the turn only if it speeds up
 The car will slide into the inside of the curve
 The car will slide off to the outside of the curve
17) A ball rolls through a hollow semicircular tube lying flat on a

horizontal. Which diagram best shows the bath of the ball after
emerging from the tube, as viewed from above?
18) Which of the following diagrams represents the correct directions of

velocity, acceleration and net force of an object moves in a uniform
circular motion?
19) An object moves in a circle counterclockwise with constant speed.

Which figure shows the correct velocity and force vectors?
Example(33): The centripetal force does not do work on the object that is moving in a
circular motion! Explain
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(34): A tube is been placed upon a table and shaped into a

three-quarters circle. A ball is pushed into the tube at
the bottom end at high speed. The ball rolls through
the tube and exits at the top end. Name the path of
the ball as it exits the tube. Explain your answer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(35): An airplane is flying in a horizontal circle of 100 m

radius at a speed of 486 km/h. If its wings are tilted
at an angle of (θ) to the horizontal.
(a) Why must the pilot tilt the plane to turn it in a circle?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) What is the name of the centripetal force here?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) How much the centripetal acceleration of the plane here?

(Answer: 182.25 m/sec2)
Example(36): Determine the source of the centripetal force in each diagram below.
------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------
-
Example(37): A pilot is flying a small plane at 60 m/sec in a circular path with a radius
of 180 m. The centripetal force needed to maintain the plane’s circular
motion is 2X104 N. What is the plane’s mass? (Answer: 1000 kg)
Example(38): A ball with mass of 250 g has a centripetal acceleration of 5 m/sec2.What

is the centripetal force acting on this ball? (Answer: 1.25 N)
Example(39): A ball with a mass of 20 kg is swung in a horizontal circular path on a

massless rope of length 0.5 m. If the ball’s speed is 1 m/sec, what is the
tension in the rope? (Answer: 40 N)
Example(40): An object of 0.4 kg mass rotates in a circular path of 5 m radius and

makes angular displacement of 3 rad in 2 s. Find the centripetal force on
the object. (Answer: 4.5 N)
Example(41): A boy ties a rock of 0.5 kg to a 60 cm rope. He makes 20 complete

revolutions in a half minute. How much is the centripetal force acting on
the rock? (Answer: 5.26 N)
Example(42): An artificial satellite has a mass of 21100 kg revolves around Earth at

6750 km from the center of Earth. If the satellite orbited Earth once at
91.8 minutes, calculate:
(a) The angular speed of the satellite in its orbit.

(Answer: 1.14x10-3 rad/sec)
(b) The centripetal force acting on the satellite. (Answer: 1.85x105 N)
Example(43): A 1300 kg car takes 35 s to travel around a circular road that has a radius
of 40 m.
(a) What is the speed of the car? (Answer: 7.18 m/sec)
(b) What is the acceleration of the car? (Answer: 1.3 m/sec2)
(c) How big should the force of friction be to maintain this acceleration?
(Answer: 1676 N)
Example(44): A small object of mass (3 kg) sits at the end of a rope. The rope is swung
in a horizontal circle of radius (r=50 cm). If the speed of the mass is given
by (v=8 m/sec) and remains constant as the mass is on its circular path.
(a) What tension is provided by the rope?

(Answer: 384 N)
(b) If the speed of the object doubled and the radius r reduce to (12.5
cm), what is the new tension provided by the rope? (Answer: 6144 N)
Example(45): A stone of 0.5 kg is attached to an inextensible string and whirled in a

horizontal circle of radius 0.98 m at a constant speed of 3.43 m/sec.
Calculate:
(a) The angular speed of the stone. (Answer: 3.5 rad/sec)
(b) The centripetal acceleration of the stone. (Answer: 12 m/sec2)
(c) The tension in the string. (Answer: 6 N)
Example(46): The average distance from Earth to the sun is about 150000000 km;
Earth rotates around the sun in one year along in a nearly circular orbit.
Calculate:
(a) The speed of Earth in the solar system. (Answer: 29886 m/sec)
(b) The Earth’s angular speed. (Answer: 2x10-7 rad/sec)
(c) The frequency of Earth’s orbit. (Answer: 3.17x10-8 Hz)
(d) The centripetal acceleration of Earth. (Answer: 6x10-3 m/sec2)
(e) The gravitational force on Earth (mearth=6x1024 kg).

(Answer: 3.6x1022 N)
Example(47): A 900 kg car makes U-turn with a speed of 10 m/sec. The radius of the
circle through which the car is turning is 25 m, determine:
(a) The force of friction acting upon the car. (Answer: 3600 N)
(b) The centripetal acceleration of the car.(Answer: 4 m/sec2)
Example(48): The next figure represents a car of 1000 kg mass moves in a circular path
of 30 m radius at 5 m/sec speed. Calculate:
(a) The angular speed of the car.

(Answer: ≈0.17 rad/sec)
(b) The centripetal force acts on the car. (Answer: ≈833.3 N)
 The gravitational force (Fg): ---------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
* The gravitational force is measured in (Newton: N)

* The gravitational force can be calculated from the following rule:
Newton’s law of gravitation
Fg: The gravitational force (Newton: N)

G: Gravitational constant (Newton meter squared per kilogram squared:
N.m2/kg2=N.m2.kg-2 or meter cubed per second squared kilogram:
m3/s2.kg=m3.s-2.kg-1)
* The gravitational constant is a universal constant, which mean it always
has the same value and does not depend on anything.
* The gravitational constant was determined by a scientist called
Cavendish.
* The gravitational constant has a very small value (G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2).
m1: The first mass (kilogram: kg).
m2: The second mass (kilogram: kg).
r: The distance between centers of the two masses (meter: m)
* Some features of the gravitational force:
1)The gravitational force is one of the four fundamental forces in the nature.
2)The gravitational force is felt by objects with mass.
3)The gravitational force in general is a very weak force, unless with giant (or very
large or enormous) mass.
4)The gravitational force is always attractive force.
5)The gravitational force is a mutual attraction force (At the same time as the first
mass attract the second mass also the second mass attract the first mass by the
same magnitude of gravitational force but in opposite direction) which mean, The
gravitational force obeys Newton’s third law (law of action and reaction)).
6)The gravitational force is long-range force (The gravitational force is over distance
force) which mean, the objects do not need touch each other to effect on each
other.
7)The gravitational force obeys an inverse square law, which
means that the gravitational force is inversely proportional
to the squared of the distance that separate the two masses.
8)The gravitational force is directly proportional to the size of
the masses.
1) The gravitational force exerts between any two:
 Charges
 Magnets
 Masses
 Nucleons
2) The gravitational force is:
 Repulsion force only

 Attraction force only
 Both attraction and repulsion force
 Neither attraction nor repulsion force
3) The gravitational force is:
 A long-range force
 A contact force
 A strong nuclear force
 A weak nuclear force
4) According to Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the force of
attraction between any two masses is directly related to the:
 distance between the masses

 velocity of the two masses
 product of the two masses
 sum of the two masses
5) According to Newton’s law of universal gravitation. What is the force of
attraction between any two masses inversely proportional to?
 Distance between the masses

 Product of the two masses
 Square of the distance between the masses
 Sum of the two mass
6) Which of the following is directly proportional to the force of gravity

between earth and the moon?
 The mass of the moon

 The volume of the moon
 The orbital velocity of earth
 The distance between earth and the moon
7) If the distance between the centers of two objects were changed from
100 cm to 20 cm. What is the new gravitational force between them?
 Would become 25 times larger

1
 Would decrease by 25
 Would become 5 times larger
1
 Would decrease by 5
8) Two masses m1 and m2 are separated by a distance r and the

gravitational force between them is F. What will happen to the
gravitational force between them if the distance between them
changes from 60 cm to 20 cm?
 The force will be 80 times larger

9) If the distance between the centers of two masses is doubled, and each
mass also is doubled. What is the gravitational force between them will
be?
 Eight times
 Four times
 Doubled
 Remain the same
10) According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, from the next

figure, how much the amount of F1 on 2?
 80N
 40N
 30N
 10N
11) If the magnitude of the gravitational force of Earth on the moon is (F),
what is the magnitude of the gravitational force of the moon on Earth?
 Equal to (F)
 Equal to zero
 Smaller than (F)
 Larger than (F)
12) If the distance between the centers of two masses is halved, and each mass
is doubled, how much the gravitational force between them will be?
 Sixteen times
 Eight times
 Doubled
 Remain the same
13) The gravitational universal constant G can be measured in:
 m2/s3.kg
 m3/s2.kg
 m3/s.kg2
 m2/s3.kg2
14) Cavendish did his experiment using lead balls, suppose he had used
double masses of copper instead, what will happen to the value of
gravitational universal constant (G)?
 It increases four times

 It becomes double
 It remains constant
 It decreases four times
15) What is the gravitational force between the two objects in the diagram
below? (G=6.67x1011 N.m2/kg2)
 10 N
 1N
 6.67x1010 N
 6.67x1011 N
16) What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between two 5.0 kg
masses separated by a distance of 5.0 meters?
(G =6.67x10-11 N.m2/Kg2)
 5.00 x1010 N
 6.67 x10–11 N
 1.30 x10–11 N
 3.30 x10–10 N
17) Two metallic spheres of 1.50 kg and 2.30 kg are placed so that their
centers are 2.00 m apart. What is the gravitational force between the
two spheres? (G=6.67X10-11 N.m2/kg2)
 1.15X10-5 N
 1.15X10-10 N
 5.75X10-11 N
 5.75X10-12 N
18) Three identical masses (A), (B) and (C) separated as shown In the
figure below, If the gravitational force between (A) and (B) equal
(10N), What is the gravitational force between (B) and (C)?
 3.4 N
 5N
 5.8 N
 17.1 N
19) Which graph below represents the correct relationship between the
gravitational force between two objects and the distance between
them?
20) Which diagram represents the direction of a gravitational force

between two objects?
21) Which diagram represents the maximum gravitational force between

two objects?
Example(50): Why the effect of the earth appears clearly on you, but your effect on
earth does not appear clearly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(51): The gravitational force is a mutual force. Explain that?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(52): Two masses m1 and m2 are separated by a distance r and the

gravitational force between them is F. What will happen to the
gravitational force between them if:
(a) The distance only between the two masses is doubled?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) The distance only between the two masses is halved?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Each mass of the two masses is double but the distance remains the
same?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d) Each mass of the two masses is double and the distance between
them also is doubled?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(53): Calculate the gravitational force between two stars of masses 4x1033 kg
and 6x1030 kg separated by 3.65x1020 m. (G =6.67x10-11 N.m2/Kg2)
(Answer: 1.2x1013 N)
Example(54): Calculate the gravitational force between two men of 80 kg mass

live in two opposite sides on earth’s surface.
(G =6.67x10-11 N.m2/Kg2; Rearth=6.4x106 m) (Answer: 2.6x10-21 N)
Example(55): Two spheres of equal mass are positional so that their centers are 8m
apart, if the gravitational force between the two spheres is 4.17x10-10 N,
what is the mass of each sphere? (G =6.67x10-11 N.m2/Kg2)
(Answer: 20 kg)
Example(56): Two 34.6 kg identical masses and their gravitational attraction to be

8.87x109 N , what is the distance separate the two masses?
(G=6.67X1011 N.m2 kg2) (Answer: 3 m)
Example(57): Two masses, the first mass is four times as the second mass, are 50 cm
apart, if the gravitational force between them is 1.6675Χ10-7 N, how
much the amount of each mass? (G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2)
(Answer: m1= 50 kg and m2= 12.5 kg)
Example(58): The moon has 7.35x1022 kg mass and orbit Earth along a path of radius
3.85x108 m. Earth has 6x1024 kg mass. If a rocket of mass 5x104 kg is fired
from Earth to the moon:
(a) What is the net gravitational force on the rocket when it is 3x108 m
from the center of Earth? (G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2) (Answer:  188 N)
(b) At what far distance from Earth’s center the net gravitational force on
the rocket is zero? (Answer:  3.46x108 m)
Example(59): In the lunar eclipse, the earth is located between the moon and the sun
and they are along the same straight line over a certain time interval, as
in the figure below. Calculate the net gravitational force on the moon
from both the earth and the sun. (Answer: 6.32x1020 N)
Example(60): Three identical spheres of 0.3 kg mass are located on the corners of right
angle triangle as in the figure below. What is the net gravitational force
on the first ball? (G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2)
(Answer:7.656x10-11 N at =29. 3o)
 Gravitational field: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Gravitational field line: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 The gravitational field lines shows the gravitational field

region around an object with mass and to check the
gravitational field around an object we use the unit test
mass (m).
 For spherical objects (such as Earth), the gravitational field

lines point towards the center of the mass so it is radial
field.
 Close to Earth’s surface the gravitational field is uniform

(the gravitational field has the same strength and same
direction at all points in it) and can be drawn as straight
lines, parallel each other, have the same direction
downward toward earth’s surface and separated equally.
Some features of the gravitational field lines:
1. The gravitational field lines are imaginary lines.

2. The spacing of the gravitational field lines is inversely proportional to the strength
of the gravitational field (If the gravitational field lines are closer together, the
gravitational field gets stronger and the gravitational field gets weaker if the
gravitational field lines are further apart from each other).
3. The direction of the arrows on the gravitational field lines indicate the direction of
the gravitational field.
4. The gravitational field lines do not intersect.
 The Gravitational field strength or the acceleration due to gravity (g):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The gravitational field strength is measured in (Newton per

kilogram: N/kg or meter per second squared: m/s2)
* The gravitational field strength can be calculated from the
following rule:
g: The gravitational field strength (Newton per kilogram: N/kg)

Fg: The gravitational force (Newton: N)
m: The unit mass (kilogram: kg)
* The gravitational field strength can be calculated also from the

following rules:
On the surface of the planet
Out the surface of the planet
Comparing between two points for the same planet
g: The gravitational field strength on the surface of the planet

(N/kg)
ğ: The gravitational field strength out the surface of the planet
(N/kg)
M: the mass that produces the gravitational field or the mass of
the planet (kg).
R: The radius of the planet (m).
r: The distance away from the center of the planet (m).
h: The height above the surface of the planet (m).
r=R+h
*The gravitational field strength obeys an inverse square law,

which means that the gravitational field strength is inversely
proportional to the squared of the distance that far away from
the center of the mass.
*The gravitational field strength is directly proportional to the

size of the mass.
*The gravitational field strength falls to zero at the center of the
mass, because the mass which contributes there is zero.
1) Anything that has mass is surrounded by……
 A magnetic field
 A nuclear field
 An electric field
 A gravitational field
2) Which following figure represents the gravitational field lines near a
spherical object?
3) In which direction the Earth gravitational field lines directed?
 Tangential to the surface of Earth

 Out of the center of the Earth
 Toward the center of the Earth
 Circling the surface of Earth
4) How far above the Earth' surface is the gravitational field strength half
of its value at the surface? (Hint: R the radius of Earth)
 2R
 1.41 R
R
 0.41 R
5) How far above earth’s surface, is the acceleration of gravity (gp) one
1
ninth of its value at the surface of earth, where (R) is the earth’s
9
radius?
R
 2R
 3R
 9R
6) What would be the value of acceleration of gravity (g), if Earth’s radius
was doubled, but its mass remained the same?
 4g
 2g
g
2
g
4
7) The masses of Earth and the asteroid Ceres are (Mearth=6.0x1024 kg) and
(Mceres=7.0x1020 kg), respectively. The radius of Earth and the asteroid
Ceres are (Rearth=6.4 x106 m) and (Rceres=5.0 x 105 m) respectively. Find
the ratio of the gravitational field strength due to Earth and the asteroid
Ceres at their surfaces.
276
 1
52.3
 1
12.8
 1
1 6
8) The asteroid Ceres has a mass of 7x1020 kg and a radius of 500 km. How
much would an 85 kg astronaut weigh on Ceres surface?
(G=6.67X10-11 N .m2 /kg2)
 7937300 N
 93380 N
 15.8746 N
 0.18676 N
9) Four planets A, B, C & D have masses and radii as given below. (M) is
the mass and (r) the radius of the earth. On which planet would the
acceleration due to gravity be the same as that of earth?
The mass of the planet The radius of the planet
 2M 2R
R
 2M
√2
M R
 √2 √2
M R
 2 √2
Example(62): Look at the diagram then answer the following questions:
(a) Where does the gravitational field is strong (A) or (B)?
(b) Write two properties of the field lines?
1- --------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(63): The gravitational field of a spherical object is a radial field. Explain how?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example(64): How much would the strength of a gravitational field be on the surface of
the planet Mars? (G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2, Mmars=6.37x1023 kg,
Rmars=3.43x106 m) (Answer: 3.6 N/kg)
Example(65): Calculate the gravitational field strength of the Earth:

(G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2; Mearth =6Χ1024 kg; Rearth =6.4Χ106 m)
(c) At Earth’s surface. (Answer: 9.8 m/s2)
(d) At 200 km above Earth’s surface. (Answer: 9.2 m/s2)
Example(66): The following table represents some facts about the moon
The object The mass The radius at the equator

The moon 7.35X1022 kg 1.74X106 m
Use the previous facts in the table to calculate the gravitational field
strength at the equator of the moon. (G=6.67X10-11 N.m2/kg2).
(Answer: 1.6 m/s2)
Example(67): The moon’s surface gravitational field strength is about 1.6 N/kg. The
moon’s radius is about 1750 km. How much the mass of the moon?
(G=6.67x10-11 N.m2/kg2)(Answer: 7.35Χ1022 kg)
Example(68): A star of radius 6.96x108 m has 275.4 N/kg gravitational field strength at
its surface. How much the gravitational field strength of this star at
1.5x1011 m from its center? (Answer:  0.006N/kg)
Example(69): Two spherical objects have their centers 2.0 m apart, as shown in the
figure. One object has a mass of 8.0 kg. The other has a mass of 6.0 kg
What is the gravitational field at the midpoint between them?
(G=6.67X10-11 N.m2/kg2)
Example(70): If (R) is the radius of earth,
(a) Calculate the value of the gravitational field strength at points (R),
(2R), (3R), (4R) and (5R) from the center of earth.
(b) Use your values of the gravitational field strength to plot the of the
gravitational field strength against distance from the center of earth.
 The satellite: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The satellite is a projectile that the only force acts on it is the force of gravity.
*As the projectile moves horizontally in a direction tangent to the earth’s surface, the
force of gravity would pull it downward.
*For (8000 m) along the horizon, earth curves down by (5 m)
*When a projectile launched horizontally at a small speed from a location high above
the influence of air drag, it would eventually follow a curved path and fall to earth
until it hits the ground due to the gravitational force of earth, and the horizontal
distance increases as the launched speed increases.
*If the projectile shot with a sufficient speed (8000 m/sec), it will remain the same
distance above the earth because the earth curves at the same rate that the
projectile falls, so the projectile would orbit the earth in a circular path.
*If the projectile shot with a speed greater than (8000 m/s), it would orbit the earth in
an elliptical path.
*If the projectile shot with a speed greater than (11200 m/s), it would escape from
earth’s gravity.
*In general, there are two types of satellite:
1) Natural satellite:
a) The moon around the earth (our oldest satellite).

b) The earth around the sun.
c) A comet around a star.
2) Artificial (Synthetic) satellite (our eyes in the sky):
a) Polar satellite
b) Low _Earth satellite
c) Eccentric satellite
d) Geostationary (Geosynchronous) satellite.
*Features of geostationary satellite:
1) The satellite rotates around earth above its equator (to cover the largest
possible area of earth’s surface).
2) The satellite has a time period of 24 hours.
3) The satellite rotates around earth in the same direction of its spin.
4) The satellite covers the same area on earth’s surface and the distance
remains constant away from earth’s center (three geostationary satellites
are separated by 120o between each one are enough to cover most of
earth’s surface except polar areas).
*Some uses of satellites:
1) Communications.
2) Studying the weather forecast.
3) Scientific research.
4) Military Intelligence (spying).
5) Remote sensing (land surveying).
1) The only force governing the motion of a satellite is the:
 Frictional force
 Normal force
 Centrifugal force
2) How far along the horizon, the earth curves down by 5 m?
 8000 km
 800 km
 80 km
 8 km
3) How fast speed projectile needed to orbit the earth in a circular path?
 Terminal speed
 Sufficient speed
 Escaping speed
 Light speed
4) If you see an orbiting satellite overhead at any moment all time (24
hours). Such a satellite is known as:
 Eccentric satellite
 Low-earth satellite
 Polar satellite
 Geostationary (geosynchronous) satellite
Example(72): (a)Geostationary satellites appear to remain stationary to an observer on
Earth. Explain why?
-------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Write two uses of the geostationary satellite.
1- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To study the motion of satellite in its orbit, we should know the following concepts:
(1) The speed of the satellite in its orbit (The orbital speed ) (ν):
*The orbital speed of the satellite is measured in (meter per second: m/sec)
*The orbital speed of the satellite can be calculated from the following rule:
ν: The orbital speed of the satellite (m/sec)

M: Earth’s mass (Central mass) (kilogram: kg)
r: The orbital radius (The height from Earth’s center) (meter: m)
R: Earth’s radius (meter: m)
h: height above Earth’s surface (meter: m)
r=R+h
*The orbital speed of the satellite does not depend on the mass of the satellite.
*The orbital speed of the satellite is directly proportional to the square root of the
mass of the planet that the satellite revolves around it.
*The orbital speed of the satellite is inversely proportional to the square root of
the orbital radius of the satellite.
1) The orbital speed of a satellite is independent on the:
 Mass of the central body

 Mass of the satellite
 Orbital radius
 Radius of the central body
2) How much will be the orbital speed of a satellite as its mass is doubled,
but it stays in its orbit?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It remains the same
 It will be slower
3) How much will be the orbital speed of a satellite as it moves closer to

the earth?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be slower
4) As the orbital radius of a satellite increases by four times (quadruple),
the orbital speed of the satellite:
 Increases by four times

 Increases by two times
 Remains the same
 Decreases by two times
5) How would the speed of satellite orbit around the earth change if
satellite distance from the earth decreased by 4 times?
 It would increase by a factor of 4

 It would increase by a factor of 2
 It would not change
 It would decrease by a factor of 2
6) As the mass of the planet that the satellite revolves around it increases
by four times (quadruple), the orbital speed of the satellite:

7) A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth at a distance of one
Earth radius above the surface. What is the speed of the satellite?
(G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg; Rearth = 6.4Χ106 m)
 5600 m/sec
 6400 m/sec
 7900 m/sec
 11200 m/sec
Example(74): On July 19, 1969,( Apollo 11’s) revolution around the Moon was adjusted
to an average orbital radius of 1885 km. the mass of the Moon is
7.35x1022 kg.At what velocity did (Apollo 11) orbit the Moon?
(G=6.67X1011 N.m2 kg2) (Answer: ≈1613 m/sec)
Example(75): On 29 of August of 2013, Qatar launched the first artificial Qatari satellite
called Es'hail Sat (1); the satellite is put at 35800 km above earth surface.
What is the orbital speed of the satellite? (Answer: ≈3080 m/sec)
(G=6.67X10-11 kg.m2/kg2, mearth=6X1024 kg, Rearth=6.4X106 m)
Example(76): An artificial satellite of 2500 kg mass revolves around Earth at 1.44Χ107

m from Earth’s surface. Find the orbital speed of the satellite at this
altitude. (G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg; Rearth = 6.4Χ106 m)
(Answer: 4386.4 m/sec)
Example(77): An artificial satellite has a mass of 21100 kg revolves around Earth at

6750 km from the center of Earth. If the satellite orbited Earth once at
91.8 minutes, calculate: (G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg)
(a) The orbital speed of the satellite in its orbit. (Answer: 7700 m/sec)
(b) The angular speed of the satellite in its orbit. (Answer: 1.14x10-3 rad/sec)
(c) The centripetal force acting on the satellite. (Answer: 1.85x105 N)
(2) The time period of the satellite in its orbit (T):
*The time period of the satellite is measured in (second: sec)

*The time period of the satellite can be calculated from the following rule:
*The time period of the satellite does not depend on the mass of the satellite.
*The time period of the satellite is inversely proportional to the square root of the
*The time period of the satellite is directly proportional to the square root of the
cube of the orbital radius of the satellite.
1) The time period of a satellite is independent on the:
 Mass of the central body

 Mass of the satellite
 Orbital radius
 Radius of the central body
2) How much will be the time period of a satellite as its mass is doubled,
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be longer
3) How much will be the time period of a satellite as it moves closer to the
earth?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be longer
4) As the orbital radius of a satellite increases by four times(quadruple),

the time period of the satellite:
 Increases by eight times

 Decreases by four times
by four times (quadruple), the time period of the satellite:

m from Earth’s surface. Find the time period of the satellite at this
altitude.
(Answer: ≈29795 sec)
Example(80): A satellite of 15000 kg mass revolves around Earth at 6x105 m above its
surface. Find: (G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg; Rearth = 6.4Χ106
m)
(a) The orbital velocity of the satellite. (Answer: ≈7561 m/sec)
(b) The orbital period of the satellite. (Answer: ≈5817 sec)
Example(81): Mars has about one-ninth the mass of earth. The figure below shows
satellite (M), which orbits mars with the same orbital radius of as
satellite (E), which orbits earth.
(a) Which satellite has a shorter period? Why?
(b) If satellite (E) is in geostationary orbit with radius of 4.23X107 m,

calculate its speed in the orbit. (Answer: ≈3076 m/sec)
Example(82): Two satellites A and B are in circular orbits about Earth. A is 150 km
above the surface, B 160 km.
(a) Which satellite has the larger orbital period?
(b) Which one has the greater speed?
(3) The gravitational potential energy of the satellite in its orbit (Ep):
*The gravitational potential energy is measured in (Joule: J)

*The gravitational potential of the satellite can be calculated from the following
rule:
*The gravitational potential energy of the satellite always is a negative value.

*The negative sign means that we must do work against gravity to put the satellite
in its orbit (we must give the satellite energy to put it in its orbit).
*The gravitational potential energy of the satellite is zero at infinity (r=∞).
*The gravitational potential energy of the satellite is directly proportional to the
orbital radius of the satellite.
*The gravitational potential energy of the satellite is inversely proportional to the
mass of the satellite.
*The gravitational potential energy of the satellite is inversely proportional to the
1) How much will be the gravitational potential energy of a satellite as its

mass is doubled, but it stays in its orbit?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
2) How much will be the gravitational potential energy of a satellite as it
moves closer to the earth?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
3) As the orbital radius of a satellite increases by four times, the
gravitational potential energy of the satellite:

by four times (quadruple), the gravitational potential energy of the
satellite:

5) The mass of Earth is M and the orbital radius for satellite with mass m is
r. Which equation represents the gravitational potential energy for the
satellite?
GMm
 E= − r
GMm
 E= 2r
GMm
 E= − 2r
GMm
 E= − r2

m from Earth’s surface. Find the gravitational potential energy of the
satellite at this altitude. (Answer: -4.8x1010 J)
(4) The kinetic energy of the satellite in its orbit (Ek):
*The kinetic energy is measured in (Joule: J)

*The kinetic of the satellite can be calculated from the following rules:
Or Or
*The kinetic energy of the satellite always is a positive value.

*The kinetic energy of the satellite is zero at infinity.
*The kinetic energy of the satellite is inversely proportional to the orbital radius of
the satellite.
*The kinetic energy of the satellite is directly proportional to the mass of the
satellite.
*The kinetic energy of the satellite is directly proportional to the mass of the
planet that the satellite revolves around it.
1) How much will be the kinetic energy of a satellite as its mass is doubled,
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
2) How much will be the kinetic energy of a satellite as it moves closer to
the earth?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
3) As the orbital radius of a satellite increases by four times, the kinetic
energy of the satellite:

by four times (quadruple), the kinetic energy of the satellite:

5) A satellite is currently orbiting Earth in a circular orbit of radius(r); its

kinetic energy is (EK). If the satellite is moved and enters a new circular
orbit of radius (2r), what is its new kinetic energy?
 2Ek
 Ek
E
 2k
Ek
 4
r. Which equation represents the kinetic energy for the satellite?
GMm
 E= − r
GMm
 E= 2r
GMm
 E= −
2r
GMm
 E= − r2

m from Earth’s surface. Find the kinetic energy of the satellite at this
(Answer: 2.4x1010 J)
Example(87): A satellite of mass 19000 kg orbits the Earth along a circular path of
radius 6.9×106 m. (G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg; Rearth =
6.4Χ106 m). Calculate:
(a) The kinetic energy of the satellite. (Answer: 5.51x1011 J)
(b) The gravitational field strength at any point in a circular radius.

(Answer: 8.4 m/s2)
(5) The total energy (The mechanical energy) of the satellite in its orbit (Etot):
*The total energy is measured in (Joule: J)

* The total of the satellite can be calculated from the following rules:
Or Or Or
*The total energy of the satellite is the minimum energy needed to put the satellite
in its orbit.
* The total energy of the satellite always is a negative value.
*The negative sign means that we must do work against gravity to put the satellite
in its orbit (we must give the satellite energy to put it in its orbit).
*The total energy of the satellite is zero at infinity.
*The total energy of the satellite is directly proportional to the orbital radius of the
satellite.
*The total energy of the satellite is inversely proportional to the mass of the
satellite.
*The total energy of the satellite is inversely proportional to the mass of the planet
that the satellite revolves around it.
1) How much will be the total energy of a satellite as its mass is doubled,
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
2) How much will be the total energy of a satellite as it moves closer to the
earth?
 It decreases
 It increases
 It will be zero
3) As the orbital radius of a satellite increases by four times, the total

energy of the satellite:

by four times (quadruple), the total energy of the satellite:

r. Which equation represents the total energy for the satellite?
GMm
 E= − r
GMm
 E= 2r
GMm
 E= − 2r
GMm
 E= − r2

m from Earth’s surface. Find the total energy of the satellite at this
(Answer: -2.4x1010 J)
Example(90): A space shuttle has a mass of 500 kg orbits Earth at 3.6x107 m from its
center. Find: (G=6.67Χ10-11N.m2 kg-2; Mearth= 6Χ1024 kg)
(a) The gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle.

(Answer: -5.56x109 J)
(b) The kinetic energy of the space shuttle. (Answer: 2.78x109 J)
(c) The total energy of the space shuttle. (Answer: -2.78x109 J)
Example(91): An (884 kg) satellite in orbit around a planet has a gravitational potential
energy of (5.44X1010 J). The orbital radius of the satellite is (8.52X106
m). (G=6.67X1011 N.m2 kg2)
(a) What is the kinetic energy of the satellite? (Answer: 2.72x1010 J)
(b) What is the orbital speed of the satellite? (Answer: 7845 m/sec)
(c) What is the total energy of the satellite? (Answer: -2.72x1010 J)
(d) What is the mass of the planet? (Answer: 7.86x1024 kg)
Comparison between Circular orbit and Elliptical orbit of the satellite
Circular Orbit Elliptical Orbit

The central mass is at the center of the The central mass is at one of the two foci
circular orbit of the elliptical orbit
The orbital speed of the satellite is the
The orbital speed of the satellite is the
fastest at the closest point to the central
same everywhere around the central
mass and it is the slowest at the farthest
mass on the same orbit
point from the central mass
The kinetic energy of the satellite is the
The kinetic energy of the satellite is the
greatest at the closest point to the central
same everywhere around the central
mass and it is the least at the farthest
mass on the same orbit
point from the central mass
The gravitational potential energy of the
The gravitational potential energy of the
satellite is the least at the closest point to
satellite is the same everywhere around
the central mass and it is the greatest at
the central mass on the same orbit
the farthest point from the central mass
The total energy of the satellite is the The total energy of the satellite is the
same everywhere around the central same everywhere around the central
mass on the same orbit mass on the same orbit
The time period of the satellite is the The time period of the satellite is the
same around the central mass on the same around the central mass on the
same orbit same orbit
Example(92): Why the satellite that rotates in an elliptical orbit slows down as it is
moving away from the central mass and it speeds up as it is moving
closer to the central mass?
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) The diagram below shows the elliptical orbit of a comet around the Sun.
The comet’s closest approach to the Sun is at point (A)?
Which of the following describes the comet’s at point (B)?
Speed Kinetic energy Potential energy

 Maximum Maximum Maximum
 Maximum Maximum Minimum
 Minimum Minimum Maximum
 Minimum Minimum Minimum
2) Which of the following elliptical orbits shown below describes a

possible orbit for a planet around the sun?
Example(94): Study the following diagram carefully, and then select the correct
answer that best answers the statement.
1) At which position, there is a component of gravitational force in the

opposite direction of the motion of the satellite?
A
B
C
D
2) At which position the satellite has the maximum orbital speed?
A
B
C
D
3) At which position the satellite has the maximum gravitational potential
energy?
A
B
C
D
4) At which positions the total energy of the satellite remains constant?
 A and C
 A and B
 B and D
 A, B, C and D
Summary of the Formulas of Unit One

(Gravity and Circular Motion)
A) Uniform Circular Motion:
1)The linear displacement: S=vt
2)The angular displacement: θ=2πn 𝐒

θ=
𝐫
𝐭 𝟐𝛑𝐫
3)The time period: T= T=
𝐧 𝐯
4)The frequency: f= 𝐧 𝟏 𝐯
f= f=
𝐭 𝐓 𝟐𝛑𝐫
𝐯
5)The angular frequency: ω= 𝛉 ω=
𝟐𝛑
ω=
ω =2πf 𝐫
𝐭 𝐓
6)The centripetal acceleration: 𝐯𝟐

a= a=𝛚𝟐 𝐫
𝐫
7)The centripetal acceleration: F=ma 𝐦𝐯 𝟐

F= F=𝐦𝛚𝟐 𝐫
𝐫
B) Gravity:
𝐆𝐦𝟏 𝐦𝟐
1)The gravitational force (Newton’s law of gravitation): Fg=
𝐫𝟐
2)The gravitational field strength:
𝐅𝐠
g= The definition of the gravitational field strength
𝐦
𝐆𝐌
g= On the surface of the planet
𝐑𝟐
𝐆𝐌
ğ= Out the surface of the planet
𝐫𝟐
𝐠 𝐫𝟐 Comparing between two points for the same planet

=
ğ 𝐑𝟐
C) Satellite:
𝐆𝐌
1)The orbital speed of the satellite: v=√
𝐫
2)The periodic time of the satellite: T= 𝟐𝛑𝐫

𝐯
−𝐆𝐌𝐦
3)The gravitational potential energy of the satellite: Ep=
𝐫
4)The kinetic energy of the satellite: 𝐆𝐌𝐦 𝐦𝐯 𝟐 −𝐄𝐩

Ek= Ek= Ek=
𝟐𝐫 𝟐 𝟐
5)The total mechanical energy of the satellite:
−𝐆𝐌𝐦 𝐄𝐩
Etot=Ep+Ek Etot= Etot= Etot=-Ek
𝟐𝐫 𝟐
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Physics Grade: 12 Advanced Unit: 1(Gravity & Circular motion) muhammadlutfieid@hotmail.

The Circular Motion

 The Circular Motion: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uniform Circular Motion Non-uniform Circular Motion

 Uniform Circular Motion: -----------------------------------------------------

r: The radius of the circular motion (meter: m)

1) What we call the motion of an object in a circular path with a steady

 Uniform linear motion

2) What CD player, Satellite and spin dryer all are using?

 When the object moves in a straight line at a constant speed

 The speed of the ball is constant

Uniform circular motion Non-uniform circular motion

(1) The linear displacement or the linear distance (S): ------------------------------------------

* The linear displacement is measured in (meter: m)

t: the time taken in motion (second: sec)

(2) The angular displacement or the angular distance (θ): -------------------------------------

*The angular displacement is measured in (radian: rad)

n: The number of rotations or the number of revolutions or the number of cycles

*If (S = r), so (θ = 1 rad≈57.3o)

Example(3): Why we use radian to measure the angles?

1) (θ) in radians is simpler than in degrees

Example(4): Convert (3 rad) to degrees. (Answer: ≈172o)

Example(5): Convert (345o) to radians. (Answer: ≈6 rad)

1) How much an angle of 2300 is equal in radians?

3) How much an angle of 3.14 rad is equal in degrees?

6) In the figure below, an object is moving in a uniform circular motion.

Example(8): A solid sphere of 5 mm radius rolls without slipping along 25 cm a

(3) The time period (T): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*The time period is measured in (second: sec)

1) The next figure represents an object moves in a circular path of 300 m

(4) The Frequency (f): --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*The frequency is measured in (revolution per second: rev/sec = rev.sec-1=rps) or

(a) Frequency. (Answer: 5 Hz)

(b) Time period. (Answer: 0.2 sec)

* The angular velocity is measured in (radian per second: rad/sec = rad.sec-1).

1) What is the unit of the angular frequency?

3) Which one of the following formulas represents the correct equation to

5) What is the period of a carousel with an angular velocity of 2.6 rad/sec?

Example(19): A train is traveling at 50 m/sec around a curve of radius 600 m. What is

Example(20): An object moves in a circular path of 5 m radius and makes angular

(a) The angular Frequency. (Answer: 1.5 rad/sec)

(b) The Frequency. (Answer: 0. 24 Hz)

(c) The time period. (Answer: 4.2 sec)

(d) The linear speed. (Answer: 7.5 m/sec)

Example(21): The second hand on a watch is 1.5cm long. Calculate:

(a) The hand’s frequency. (Answer: 0.017 Hz)

(c) The hand’s angular frequency. (Answer: 0.1 rad/sec)

(6) The centripetal acceleration (ac): -----------------------------------------------------------------

*The centripetal acceleration is measured in (meter per second squared:

*The centripetal acceleration comes from the changing in the

1) Why the object moving at a constant speed in a circle is accelerating?

 Because the force acting on the object keeps changing

 Along the tangent of the circle

3) If the object moves in non-uniform circular motion. Does it has

 It just has a centripetal acceleration

 It will remain the same

7) What is the centripetal acceleration of merry-go of arm 2m and

Which graph best represents the magnitude of the centripetal

Example(24): An object moves in a circular path of 5 m radius and makes angular

Example(26): A child whirls a ball on a string in a horizontal circle of radius 1 m. How

Example(27): A car is driving in a circle with a radius of 10.0 m at 14.0 m/sec.

(a) What is the acceleration of the car? (Answer: 19.6 m/sec2)