Conceptual Physics POGIL: Universal Gravitational

We have learned about weight as the gravitational force exerted on you by the planet you’re standing on, usually
the Earth. But gravity is a force exerted by all masses on each other, not just you and the Earth. In this sense,
we say that the gravitational force is universal. In this POGIL we will learn about what influences the magnitude
of the gravitational force.

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

All masses in the universe are attracted to each other by a gravitational force: planets, stars, people,
doughnuts…everything that has mass. In the diagram below, we see two masses, labeled m1 and m2, separated
by a distance d.
m1 m2

The gravitational force between the two masses is always attractive…just like love.

The magnitude of the gravitational force F between two masses is directly proportional to the product of the
masses m1 and m2 and inversely proportional to the square of the distance d between the masses. This
relationship is summed up by the equation

𝑚1 𝑚2
𝐹=𝐺 .
𝑑2

G is a constant of proportionality, called the Universal Gravitational Constant, equal to 6.67×10−11 N-m2/kg2. This
equation is known as Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation. It was discovered by the same Newton who gave
us our trusty three laws of motion.

1. The diagram below shows a 10 kg mass and a 70 kg mass separated by a distance of 1 m.

10 kg 70 kg

1m

(a) On each mass above, draw arrows indicating the direction of the force on each mass.
 Arrows should be drawn towards the other mass equal in length

(b) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force on the 10 kg mass.

 F = 4.7 x 10-7 N

(c) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force on the 70 kg mass.

 F = 4.7 x 10-7 N

(d) Which mass exerts the greater gravitational force on the other? Why is this so?
 According to Newton’s 3rd Law, they exert the same force on each other.
2. The diagram below shows a 10 kg mass and a 70 kg mass separated by a distance of 10 m.

10 kg 70 kg

10 m

(a) On each mass above, draw arrows indicating the direction of the force on each mass.
 Arrows should be drawn towards the other mass equal in length

(b) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force on the 10 kg mass.

 F = 4.7 x 10-10 N

(c) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force on the 70 kg mass.

 F = 4.7 x 10-10 N

(d) How do your answers to (b) and (c) compare to your answers to (b) and (c) in question 1?
 The answers are the same because of Newton’s 3rd Law.

3. The mass of the Sun is approximately 2×1030 kg, while the mass of the planet Mars is approximately 6.4×1023
kg. The average distance between Mars and the Sun is 2.28×1011 m.
(a) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force that the Sun exerts on Mars.
 F = 2.5 x 1031 N

(b) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force that Mars exerts on the Sun.
 F = 2.5 x 1031 N

4. In the diagram below, we see two masses, labeled m1 and m2, separated by a distance d. The two masses
are attracted to each other with 36 N of force.
m1 m2

d
(a) If we double the mass m1, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the masses?
 72 N

(b) If we double the mass m2, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the masses?
 72 N

(c) If we triple the mass m1, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the masses?
 108 N

(d) If we double the distance between the masses, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between
the masses?
 9N
 (e) If we triple the distance between the masses, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between
the masses?
 4N

(f) If we halve the distance between the masses, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force between
the masses?
 144 N

5. If gravitation is universal, why do you only observe its effects between you and the Earth?
(a) A system must always be defined for purpose of study. You cannot study the whole universe all at
once. Therefore, when speaking of gravity, we simply look at gravity’s effect on one object at a time,
including a person. Still, gravitation is universal at all times.

Problem Solving
6. The mass of the Earth is approximately 5.98×1024 kg. The average distance between Earth and the Sun is
1.5×1011 m.
(a) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force that the Sun exerts on Earth.
 F = 3.5 x 1022 N

(b) Determine the magnitude of the gravitational force that Earth exerts on the Sun.
 F = 3.5 x 1022 N

(c) What is the acceleration of the Earth in its orbit?

 a = 5.9 x 10-3 m/s2

(d) What causes the Earth to follow a curved path around the Sun instead of a straight path?
 The gravitational pull the Sun exerts on the Earth causes the Earth to travel in a circular
pattern much like tying a string to a ball and swinging it above your head.