Gravitational Fields

Question 1

Field

Answer 1

A region which experiences a force

Question 2

Gravitational Field

Answer 2

A region of space where a test mass feels an attractive force when placed in the field

Question 3

Null point

Answer 3

Where the resultant gravitational field strength is 0.

Question 4

Uniform gravitational field

Answer 4

A mass will experience the same pulling force where ever it is in such a field since the gravitational field strength is constant

Question 5

Gravitational field strength

Answer 5

the pulling force, per unit mass, that a test mass would feel when placed in the field.

Question 6

Newton’s law of universal gravitation

Answer 6

The gravitational force between 2 point masses is:
- always attractive
- proportional to the
product of the masses of
the two objects
- proportional to 1/r^2

Question 7

Absolute gravitational potential at a point

Answer 7

The work done per unit mass to move from infinity to that point in the field

Question 8

Gravitational Potential Energy

Answer 8

The work done by an external force in brining a mass from infinity to that point.