Module 4—Gravitational Force

Read

 

Read “Relating Gravitational Field Strength to Gravitational Force” on pages 216 to 219 of the physics textbook to prepare for the following questions.

 

Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment

 

Remember to submit the answers to TR 2 and TR 3 to your teacher as part of your Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment.

 

Try This

 

TR 2. Determine the acceleration on the surface of the Moon if it has a radius of 1.74 × 106 m and a mass of 7.35 × 1022 kg. Explain how this would affect the walking pattern of a human being.

 

TR 3. Determine the acceleration of a satellite that is orbiting Earth at an altitude of 600 km. Use a mass of 5.98 × 1024 kg and a radius of 6.378 × 106 m for Earth. Use the simulation to verify your answer. Set the y position to 600 km, and look for the acceleration value in the data box.

 

Read

 

Why isn’t the value of g exactly 9.81 m/s2 everywhere on the surface of Earth? Read “Different Values of Gravitational Field Strength on Earth” on page 221 of the textbook. Then read ”Applications of the Variation in g in Geology” beginning on page 222. Look for the answers to this question in the next Self-Check question.

 

Self-Check

 

SC 8. What are four factors that can slightly change the value of g at the surface of Earth?

 

Check your work.
Self-Check Answers

 

SC 8. Factors that can slightly change the value of g at the surface of Earth include latitude, altitude, the density of Earth’s crust at that location, and the rotation of Earth.

 

 

Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment

 

Remember to submit the answer to TR 4 to your teacher as part of your Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment.

 

Try This

 

TR 4. Complete question 1 of the “Practice Problems” on page 220 of the textbook.

 

Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment

 

Remember to submit Reflect and Connect to your teacher as part of your Module 4: Lesson 2 Assignment.