Gravitational field: conceptual and qualitative study
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences
Problem
Gravitational field: conceptual and qualitative study
(i) Define gravitational field intensity at a point in space.
(ii) State the vector character of gravitational field intensity and explain how the principle of superposition is applied when more than one source mass is present.
(iii) Two identical point masses of 2kg each are placed 1m apart in vacuum. Without performing any numerical calculation, describe qualitatively the direction and relative magnitude of the gravitational field (a) at the midpoint of the line joining the two masses, and (b) at a point on the same line that is 0.25m from one of the masses.