The Value of g

The Value of g Video Tutorial shows how the Law of Universal Gravitation is used to derive an equation for calculating the value of the gravitational field strength. The variables affecting g are discussed and the equation is used in several contexts to calculate a g value.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

What variables affect the gravitational field strength?
How can the gravitational field strength be calculated?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

Concept Builders, Circular Motion and Satellite Motion section, Gravitational Field Strength
Concept Builders provide you an opportunity for practice with immediate feedback and opportunities for correction. A Help Me! button is available for each question.

Minds On Physics, Mission CG7: Acceleration of Gravity
A Minds On Physics mission provides you a great workout in careful reading, analytical thinking, and conceptual reasoning. They're difficult but there's a Help button waiting to assist. If you endure the frustration of getting questions wrong, you will likely get it right on the test. That's a win!

Calculator Pad, Circular Motion and Gravitation Problem Set, #19-21
Our Calculator Pad problem sets provide a collection of problems, with answers, and audio-guided solutions. For a student attempting to learn how to use a physics equation, you couldn't ask for more.

Physics Interactives: Value of g on Earth
This activity (referenced on Slide 4 of the video) allows you to click at various locations on a globe and view the value of g at that location. There are some surprising results.

Physics Interactives: Value of g on Other Planets
This activity (referenced on Slide 5 of the video) provides an easy interface for viewing the value of g on other planets in our Solar System.

The Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion Chapter: The Value of g
The easy-to-understand language and common sense approach of our Tutorial pages makes it a great written reference when you need one.

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Circular Motion and Gravitation
Get students active and thinking with our free Think Sheets from the Curriclum Corner section of our website. The following Think Sheet is a reasonably good fit to this video:
Universal Gravitation

Teacher Toolkits, Universal Gravitation
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on universal gravitation a try.

Calculator Pad, Circular Motion and Gravitation Problem Set, Problems #19-21
Our Calculator Pad problem sets provide a collection of problems, with answers, and audio-guided solutions. For a student attempting to learn how to use a physics equation, you couldn't ask for more.

Concept Builders, Circular Motion and Satellite Motion section, Gravitational Field Strength
Concept Builders provide students an opportunity for practice with immediate feedback and opportunities for correction. A Help Me! button is available for each question. This one on gravitational field strength provides support for this video.

Minds On Physics, Mission CG7: Acceleration of Gravity
A Minds On Physics mission provides students a great workout in close reading, analytical thinking, and conceptual reasoning. They're difficult but there's a Help button waiting to assist. Those who endure the frustration of getting questions wrong will come out of the exercise and get it right on the test. That's a win!

Physics Interactives: Value of g on Other Planets
This activity (referenced on Slide 5 of the video) provides an easy interface for viewing the value of g on other planets in our Solar System.

The Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion Chapter: The Value of g
This page from our written Tutorial section mirrors much of the video and is a great reference for students. Many teachers include a link to it on their course page.

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.