Fourth year of secondary education
The force of gravity
José Luis San Emeterio Peña
 F G 
All teaching units Print Home
Measuring the intensity of gravity

 

   The intensity of gravity g is easy to measure with a pendulum and it is not equal in all places.

   Gravity at the centre of the planet is nil and it increases linearly until it reaches the surface.

   The value of g, away from the surface of the planet decreases with distance. 

    Although we are not going to demonstrate this, you should know that the value of g is determined by the law:

  Where G is the universal gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet and r the distance to the centre. 

   If you want to see how g varies again click here.

 

 

  

Objectives of the teaching unit
Falling bodies
Free fall in a vacuum
Free fall in the air
Falling kinematics
Conclusions
The mass and weight of bodies
The weight of bodies
The difference between mass and weight
Conclusions
Measuring the intensity of g
A simple measuring device
g is not a true constant
Conclusions
Gravity beyond the earth
The force of the tides
The movement of satellites
The solar system
Conclusions
Evaluation