Newton's Law of Gravitation and Applications
Sir Isaac Newton discovered many laws dealing with math and physics. One particular law, the law of gravitation, dealt with the heavens and planets. This law was derived and at first though that it could only apply to outer space, but is shown that we can use it elsewhere also. Newton's law of gravitation is applied to many circumstances, and helps us derive other very useful equations. His law is very versatile and powerful because it opens gateways to other laws and equations. In 1666, 45 years after Johannes Kepler discovered his laws about planetary motion; Isaac Newton discovered an interesting fact about planets. (Zitzewitz p160) Newton discovered that the net force on a planet must vary inversely with the square of the distance between two planets from the centers. (Zitzewitz p160) This is expressed in algebraic form as F~1/d2. (Zitzewitz p160) ~ is substituting for the symbol of "is proportional to". Also, Newton discovered that the force acted in the direction of a line connecting the centers. (Zitzewitz p160) But Newton was unable at this time to measure the magnitude of the force. (Zitzewitz p160) The falling apple made Newton think of the problem of the motion of the planets. (Zitzewitz p161) Newton r
The Grolier Society Inc. The Book of Knowledge Volume 7. New York: ecognized that the Earth attracted to the apple, which caused it to fall directly downward. (Zitzewitz p161) This could mean gravity attracts the planets to the sun. (Zitzewitz p161) Newton recognized the force on the apple must be proportional to the mass of the apple. (Zitzewitz p161) In addition, according to Newton's third law of motion, which states for every action there is an equal reaction in the opposite direction, the apple would also attract to the Earth. (Zitzewitz p161) Therefore the force of attraction must be proportional to the mass of the Earth. (Zitzewitz p161) The gravitational constant exists in the equation for force of gravity between two masses' centers. Henry Cavendish first measured the gravitational constant in an important experiment in 1798. (Vondeling, p185) The apparatus Henry used consisted of two small spheres fixed to the ends of a light horizontal rod suspended by a thin wire. (Vondeling, p185) Two large spheres were then placed near the smaller spheres. (Vondeling, p185) The attractive force between the smaller and larger spheres caused the rod to rotate and the wire to twist. (Vondeling, p185) This was repeated and varied to result in the exact value for G. (Vondeling, p15) G is the symbol for the gravitational constant. (Vondeling, p185) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now we can apply these concepts to a real life situation that can come across many people every day. For example, when a gun is fired, what keeps the shell from falling all at once? The shell when fired travels in a certain path shaped as a curve. (The Grolier Society Inc. Volume 7, p2490) All things travel along paths of this kind when they are thrown forward. (The Grolier Society Inc. Volume 7, p2490) If the shell were simply rolled from the barrel of the gun, it would fall to the ground at once because the force of gravity would pull it down. (The Grolier Society Inc. Volume 7, p2490) When the shell is fired it leaves the gun in a certain direction with a certain amount of force. (The Grolier Society Inc. Volume 7, p2491) Although Newton's law of gravitation says that the earth is pulling the shell, his first law of motion says that ev
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Approximate Word count = 1538
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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