This section is about Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. The learning objectives include explaining Newton's law of universal gravitation, comparing it to Einstein's theory of general relativity, and performing calculations using Newton's law of universal gravitation. Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law was first proposed by Sir Isaac Newton, who also formulated the three laws of motion. Einstein's Theory of General Relativity is a broader theory that includes special relativity and explains gravity as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. It was published later than Newton's work and includes concepts such as the equivalence of gravity and acceleration, and the bending of light by gravity. Calculations using Newton's law of universal gravitation involve the gravitational constant G, the masses of the objects, and the distance between their centers. The equation for Newton's universal law of gravitation is F = G \* (m1 \* m2) / r^2, where F is the magnitude of the gravitational force, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between their centers. Some key terms related to Newton's law of universal gravitation include mass, weight, acceleration due to gravity (g), and the gravitational constant (G). Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force of gravity acting on an object. The acceleration due to gravity (g) varies depending on the location, while the gravitational constant (G) is a universal constant that applies anywhere in the universe. The section also includes a virtual physics simulation that allows students to move the sun, Earth, moon, and space station to see how it affects their gravitational forces and orbital paths. There is also a take-home experiment that involves studying the effects of mass and air resistance on the acceleration of falling objects. The section concludes with a discussion of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, including its explanation of some interesting properties of gravity not covered by Newton's theory, such as the bending of light by gravity. The section also mentions the Gravity Probe B mission, which confirmed two key predictions derived from Einstein's theory.

Last modified: Wednesday, 22 January 2025, 2:44 PM