Fields part 1 Flashcards
What is a force field
An area in which an object experiences a non-contact force
2 ways to represent force fields
Vectors or diagrams containing field lines
What feature of field lines represent strength of force exerted
Distance between them
When are force fields formed
During interaction of masses, static charges or moving charges
When are gravitational fields formed
During interaction of masses
When are electric fields formed
During interaction of charges
3 similarities of gravitational and electric fields
Forces both follow an inverse-square law, use field lines to be represented, both have equipotential surfaces
2 differences of gravitational and electric fields
Gravitational fields only attractive, electric can be attractive or repulsive, electric field acts on charge, gravitational acts on mass
2 basic principles of gravity
Acts on any objects with mass, always attractive
Relationship between magnitude of gravitational force between 2 objects and the product of the masses of them
Directly proportional
Relationship between magnitude of gravitational force between 2 objects and the square of the distance between the 2 centre of masses
Inversely proportional
What is magnitude of gravitational force between 2 objects directly proportional to
Product of masses
What is magnitude of gravitational force between 2 objects inversely proportional to
Square of distance of 2 centres of masses
Force, gravitational constant, masses and distance formula
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2 - what is G
Gravitational constant
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2 - what is m1 and m2
mass 1 and mass 2
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2 - what is r
Distance between centre of masses
F = (Gm1m2)/r^2 - what is F
Force
How many types of gravitational fields are there
2
What are the types of gravitational fields
Uniform, radial
Uniform field basic principle
Exerts same gravitational force on a mass everywhere in the field
Radial field basic principle
Gravitational force exerted depends on the position of the object in the field, further from centre means force decreases and vice versa
Why does the Earth’s gravitational field act uniform at the surface of the Earth
Area is so big that the lines appear in the same way as a uniform field (zoom in on a radial image and the lines look straight)
What is the gravitational field strength
Force per unit mass exerted by a gravitational field on an object