Contents
TOC(Table of Contents)
Topic 2
Gravity
Candles burning in air: normal gravity on left and zero gravity at right. SOURCE Click Here.
Click R1 "Isaac Newton" and read about Newton and gravity. See how Newton used knowledge of trajectories and the Moons orbit to develop inverse square law of gravitation.
Read R4 "Your Weight on Other Worlds". Instead of your weight you can use unity and easily calculate gravitational acceleration(g) on other planets.
Click R6 "NSSDC's General Public Page" Read "Planetary Fact Sheets" on at least two planets.
General Theory of Relativity and
Gravity
"One way to think
about space-time is as a large fishing net. Left unperturbed and stretched out
flat, it is straight and regular. But the minute one puts a weight into the net,
everything bends to support that weight. A weight that was spinning would wreak
even more havoc with the net, twisting it as it spun. The mass-energy of the
planet earth represents a "weight" in our net of space-time, and the
daily revolutions of the earth, according to Einstein’s theory, represent a
twisting of local space-time. GP-B will search for this twisting effect, which
has never before been measured." from Gravity
Probe B The Relativity Mission.
Suggested exercise:
Calculate the acceleration of gravity (g) on a planet using
data from R6
"Planetary Fact Sheets" and use g to determine your weight on that planet. Use R4
"Your Weight on Other Worlds" to calculate your weight on selected planet. Compare calculator
results to your answer.
Source Click
Here
These people are in a plane not a space capsule. Which of the following is
true. A. Gravity is absent in this plane. B. The plane is in freefall. C. The
pilot is forcing the plane to follow a freefall trajectory.
Answer Bottom of Page
Answer: C
Educational
Products
