Gravitational Field Strength
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Gravitational Field Strength is the force per kilogram on an object in a gravitational field.
About Gravitational Field Strength
- On Earth gravitational field strength is roughly 10 Newtons for each kilogram of mass (10N/kg).
- Different objects have different gravitational field strengths.
Examples
| Mercury | Venus | Earth |
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| 4N/kg | 9N/kg | 10N/kg |
| The Moon | Mars | Jupiter |
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 |
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| 4N/kg | 20N/kg | 10N/kg |
| Saturn | Uranus | Neptune |
 |
 |
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| 9N/kg | 10N/kg | 2N/kg |
| The Sun | ||
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| 300N/kg |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Gravitational Field Strength is the force per kilogram on an object in a gravitational field.
About Gravitational Field Strength
- At sea level on Earth the gravitational field strength is 9.8 Newtons for each kilogram of mass (9.8N/kg).
Gravitational Field Strength depends on:
- The mass of the moon, planet or star - The larger the mass the greater the gravitational field strength.
- Distance from the centre of mass of the moon, planet or star - The larger the distance the smaller the gravitational field strength.
| Mercury | Venus | Earth |
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|
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| 3.7N/kg | 8.8N/kg | 9.8N/kg |
| The Moon | Mars | Jupiter |
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|
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| 1.7N/kg | 3.7N/kg | 24N/kg |
| Saturn | Uranus | Neptune |
|
|
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| 11N/kg | 9.0N/kg | 12N/kg |
| The Sun | ||
| ||
| 290N/kg |
References
AQA
- Gravitational field strength (g), page 120, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Gravitational field strength, pages 12, 52, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Gravitational field strength, pages 169, 204, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Gravitational field strength, page 150, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Gravitational field strength, page 300, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Gravitational field strength, pages 16, 120, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Gravitational field strength, pages 17, 59, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Gravitational field, page 133, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Gravitational field, page 375, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel