fields and their concequences Flashcards
Newton’s Law of Gravity
there exists an attractive force between two point masses which is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to their separation squared
concept of a force field
the region in which a body experiences a force
representation of gravitational field lines (radial and uniform fields)
field lines show direction of force on a point mass in a gravitational field - vectors.
Uniform field - straight lines of equal distance apart
radial field - straight lines point inwards - as lines get further apart the field becomes weaker
equipotential
- lines joining points of equal potential
- no work is done moving an object through a line of equipotential
gravitational field strength
the force acting per unit mass on a mass in a gravitational field
radial field - g is inversely proportional to r²
uniform field - g is inversely proportional to r
Gravitational field strength units
Nkg-1 (vector)
gravitational potential
work done per unit mass in moving from a small mass from infinity to that point
units of gravitational potential
Jkg-1 (scalar)
gravitational potential at infinity
zero
gravitational potential difference between two points
work done per unit mass in moving a small mass from one point to the other
graph of g against r
curve that reaches a maximum at the surface of an object
area under graph of gravitational field strength against r
work done moving a unit mass between the two points
graphical variation of V with r
r shaped curve
gradient of graph of gravitational potential against r
gradient = -g
g = - ∆V/ ∆r
derivation of Kepler’s Law
- Gravitational force = centripetal force
- GMm/r² = mv²/r or GMm/r² = mrω²
- GM/r = v² where v=2πr/t
- re-arrange to get T² = 4π²/GM x r³
energy considerations of an orbiting satellite
- total satellite energy = KE + GPE = 0.5mv²
- GMm/r = GMm/2R -GMm/r
Circular orbit - KE and GPE are both constant.
Elliptical orbit - KE and GPE increase and decrease inversely with each other in cycles
features of a geosynchronous orbit- geostationary satellite
- Orbits over the equator
- period is 24 hours so maintains a fixed position relative to the surface of Earth
- offers uninterrupted communication between transmitter and receiver without steering required
low orbit satellites
- 180 - 2000 km above Earth
- cheaper to launch and require less powerful transmitters
- high speed and close proximity so need several working together- each can scan whole earth
Escape velocity of an object from a planet
loss of KE = gain in GPE
1/2mv²= GMm/r ∴ v = √2GM/r
field line rules
- start at surface/ point leaving surface at 90 degrees
- arrow shows direction of force lines do not cross
gravitational field strength and density
gravitational field strength is proportional to density
coulomb’s Law
-there exists a force between two point charges that is proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to their separation squared
- Attractive with un-like charges (negative)
- Repulsive with like charges (positive)
representations of electric field lines
- field lines show direction of force on a point positive charge in an electric field
- lines always start/finish on a surface/charge, do not cross and leave a surface at 90 degrees
electric field strength
force acting per unit positive charge on a positive charge when placed in an electric field (vector)