2.

8 Understanding
Gravity
 Learning Outcome :
 Explain acceleration due to gravity
 State what a gravity field is
 Define gravitational field strength
 Determine the value of acceleration due to
gravity
 Define weight ( W ) = mg
 Introduction
 The concept of gravitational
force was introduced by the
famous scientist Sir Isaac
Newton. He saw an apple fall
on his head. He said all
object are pulled by a force
which causes them to fall to
the surface
 What is gravitational field?
 A gravitational field as a region in which an
object experiences a force due to gravitational
attraction of earth.
 What is gravitational field
strength?
 The gravitational field strength at a point in the
gravitational field is the gravitational force acting
on a mass of 1 kg placed at that point.
 It is measured in Nkg-1.
 The gravitational field strength of the earth =
9.8 Nkg-1.
Formula of Gravitational Field
Strength
 What is gravitational
acceleration?
 The gravitational acceleration is the acceleration
of an object due to the pull of the gravitational
force.
 It unit ms-2
 Symbol : g Important notes:
- Gravitational acceleration
does not depend on the
mass of the moving object.
- The magnitude of
gravitational acceleration is
taken to be 10ms-2.
Comparing gravitational field strength and
gravitational acceleration

G. Field Strength G . Acceleration

Symbol :g Symbol :g
Value & Unit : 10 ms-2 on the surface Value & Unit : 10 ms-2 on the surface
of the earth of the earth

When considering a body falling When considering objects at rest, g is

freely, the g is the gravitational the Earth gravitational field strength
acceleration. acting on it.
 What is Weight?
 The weight of an
object is defined as
the gravitational
force acting on the
object.
 Unit: Newton (N)
Differences between Weight and
Mass
Weight Mass

Depends on the gravitational field Independent from the gravitational

strength field strength

Vector quantity Scalar Quantity

Unit Newton (N) Unit Newton (N)

 What is free falling?

 Free falling is a motion under

force of gravity as the only
force acting on the moving
object.
 Practically, free falling can only
take place in vacuum.
Free falling case 1 : Falling from
high place
 Falling from high place
 Acceleration = 10ms-2
Initial velocity = 0
Displacement = high of the location
Free falling case 2 – Launching
object upward
 Launching object upward
 Acceleration = -10ms-2
Velocity at maximum height = 0
Problems Involving Lift