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DERIVATION
Let us consider two objects of masses M and m that lie at a distance r from each other as shown below in the figure
Free Fall
The falling of a body from a height towards the earth under the gravitational force of earth is called free fall
1. When an object falls freely towards the earth there happens to be no change in the direction of motion
of the object but due to the attraction of earth there will be a change in the magnitude of velocity.
2. Change in velocity involves acceleration. So whenever the objects falls towards earth an acceleration is involved due to earth's gravitational force.
3. This acceleration due to earth's gravitational force is called acceleration due to gravity which is denoted by 'g' and its SI unit is m/s2
Calculation of value of g
Let us consider an object of mass m falling freely under the influence of Earth's gravitational force.
Since the object is moving under the sole effect of gravity (free fall motion) then acceleration experienced .
by the object would be g which is the acceleration due to gravity of earth
Now from Newton's second law of motion , force experienced by this freely falling object would be
Fgrav= mg ............................ (5)
Again from Universal law of gravitation force of gravity with which an object is attracted to earth is
Fgrav =GMearth×m ....................... (6)
d 2
where d is the distance from the center of the object to the center of the earth and M earth is the mass of the earth.
Now from equations (5) and(6)
we have ,
mg = GMearth×m
d 2
or
g= GMearth .......................................(7)
d 2
So if the object under consideration is very near to the surface of the earth or on the surface of the earth then .
we can approximate d ≈ R earth where R earth is the radius of the earth. So expression for g near or on the surface of the earth would be
g= GM earth ......................... (8)
(R earth ) 2
g=9.8ms −2
Mass Weight
1. Mass is a property of an object 1. Weight depends on the effect of gravity.
The mass of an object is the same everywhere, Weight varies according to location
2. Mass can never be zero. 2. Weight can be zero if no gravity acts upon an
object, as in space.
3. Mass does not change according to location 3. Weight increases or decreases with higher or
lower gravity
4. Mass is a scalar quantity. It has magnitude. 4. Weight is a vector quantity. It has magnitude
and is directed toward the center of the Earth
5. Mass may be measured using an ordinary 5. Weight is measured using a spring balance.
balance.
6. Mass usually is measured in grams and 6. Weight often is measured in Newtons, a unit of
kilograms force.
Show that weight of an object on the moon is 1/6 th of its weight on the Earth.
Wm = Gx Mxm x 16 R2
WE R2x Gx 100Mxm
or
Wm = 16
WE 100
or
Wm = 1
WE 6
or
Weight on moon = 1
Weight on Earth 6