BRAINCAKEArea Under a Force vs Distance Graph
The diagram shows the force needed to move a 1kg mass in a gravitational field (N) with the distance moved (m). Work done = force × distance moved in the direction of the force. The area under the graph is the work done on the 1kg mass and is transferred to gravitational potential energy. Work done per unit mass = gravitational potential, so the area under the graph is the gravitational potential provided the mass is 1kg.
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Key terms in this lesson
- gravitational field
- A region of space in which a mass experiences a force due to the presence of another mass.
- gravitational potential
- The work done per unit mass to move a small test mass from infinity to a point in a gravitational field.
More in Gravitational Fields
- Gravitational Potential.
- Equipotentials.
- The potential gradient.
- Newton's Law of Gravitation.
- Gravitational Field Strength - g.
- Gravitational Potential.
- Potential Gradients
- Satellites
All 14 lessons in Gravitational Fields · All OCR A-level Physics topics