Autumn Rounds

PHYS1310 Gravitational Forces

Simulated Laboratory Exercise - Module 2
In this experiment, you will use a simulation to measure the gravitation force between two
masses. Youll determine how the strength of the force of gravity depends on the two masses
and the distance between them. Youll also determine a value for the Universal Gravitation
constant, G.
To run the simulation, go to phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/gravity-force-lab and click on Run
Now.
Part I. Qualitative Observations
1. Use the slider on the right-hand side of the screen to increase the mass of m1. Does the
gravitational force between the two masses increase, decrease, or remain the same?
Increase
2. Decrease the mass of m1. Does the gravitational force increase, decrease, or remain the
same?
Decrease
3. Use the second slider to increase the mass of m2. Does the gravitational force increase,
decrease, or remain the same?
Increase
4. Decrease the mass of m2. Does the gravitational force increase, decrease, or remain the
same?
Decrease
5. Click on either one of the two masses and drag it so they are closer together. Does the
gravitational force increase, decrease, or remain the same?
Increase
6. Drag either mass so they are farther apart.
decrease, or remain the same?

Does the gravitational force increase,

Decrease
7. In any of your observations so far, have the two gravitational forces (on m1 from m2 and on
m2 from m1) ever been different from each other? Why?
No, they have not been different from each other because

Part 2. Quantitative Measurements

Changing Mass 1
1. Click Reset All to get everything back to the original values.
2. In this part, you will be changing m1, but keeping m2 and the distance between them
constant. On your page, record the mass of m2. Use the on-screen ruler to measure the
distance between the centers of m1 and m2, and record it on your page.
m2=25kg 4 meters
3. Make a data table to record the mass of m1 (in kg) and force (in newtons).
4. For at least 12 different data points, change the mass of m1, and then record the mass and
gravitational force in your data table.
Mass
Force
1. 97kg
0.000000010115 N
2. 82kg
0.000000008551 N
3. 70kg
0.000000007300 N
4. 51kg
0.000000005318 N
5. 36kg
0.000000003754 N
6. 29kg
0.000000003024 N
7. 23kg
0.000000002398 N
8. 17kg
0.000000001773 N
9. 13kg
0.000000001356 N
10. 10kg
0.000000001043 N
11. 7kg
0.000000000730 N
12. 2kg
0.000000000209 N
Changing Mass 2
1. Click Reset All to get everything back to the original values.
2. In this part, you will be changing m2, but keeping m1 and the distance between them
constant. On your page, record the mass of m1. Use the on-screen ruler to measure the
distance between the centers of m1 and m2, and record it on your page.
m1= 38kg 4 meters
3. Make a data table to record the mass of m2 (in kg) and force (in newtons).

4. For at least 12 different data points, change the mass of m2, and then record the mass and
gravitational force in your data table.
Mass
Force
1. 90kg
0.000000014265 N
2. 85kg
0.000000013473 N
3. 76kg
0.000000012046 N
4. 70kg
0.000000011095 N
5. 63kg
0.000000009986 N
6. 54kg
0.000000008559 N
7. 47kg
0.000000007450 N
8. 40kg
0.000000006340 N
9. 31kg
0.000000004914 N
10. 25kg
0.000000003963 N
11. 17kg
0.000000002695 N
12. 7kg
0.000000001110 N

Changing Distance
1. Click Reset All to get everything back to the original values.
2. In this part, you will be keeping the masses of m1 and m2 constant but changing the distance
between them. On your page, record the masses of m1 and m2.
m1= 38kg m2=25kg
3. Make a data table to record the distance between the centers of the masses (in meters) and
force (in newtons). Leave room for a third column, which youll fill in later.
4. Move m1 to the left side of the screen. Place the on-screen ruler so that the zero mark lines
up with the center of m1.
5. For at least 12 different data points, move m2 to a different location, and then record the
distance between the masses centers, along with gravitational force, in your data table.
Distance
Force
Distance (1/distance^2)
1. 1m
0.000000031890 N
1
2. 2m
0.000000014107 N
0.25
3. 3m
0.000000006683 N
0.111111
4. 4m
0.000000003885 N
0.0625
5. 5m
0.000000002428 N
0.04
6. 6m
0.000000001676 N
0.02777778
7. 6.5m
0.000000001455 N
0.0236686
8. 7m
0.000000001247 N
0.02040816
9. 7.5m
0.000000001086 N
0.01777778
10. 8m
0.000000000959 N
0.015625
11. 9m
0.000000000774 N
0.01234568
12. 10m
0.000000000620 N
0.01

Part 3. Analysis
You will have a total of four graphs to draw for this lab.
Graph 1 uses your data from Changing Mass 1. Put mass 1 (in kg) on the horizontal axis
and gravitational force (in N) on the vertical axis.
Graph 2 uses your data from Changing Mass 2. Put mass 2 (in kg) on the horizontal axis
and gravitational force (in N) on the vertical axis.
Graph 3 uses your data from Changing Distance. Put distance (in m) on the horizontal axis
and gravitational force (in N) on the vertical axis.
Graph 3 is not a straight line, so we need to draw Graph 4 to straighten it out so we can
analyze it. For all your data points from Changing Distance, calculate 1 divided by the
distance squared, and write that number in the blank third column in your data table. Graph
4 will have (1/distance2) on the horizontal axis and gravitational force on the vertical axis.
Graph 1

Changing Mass 1
0
0

f(x) = 0x + 0

Gravitational
Force (N)

0
0
0
0
0

20

40

60

80

Mass 1 (kg)

100

120

Graph 2

Change Mass 2
0
f(x) = 0x + 0

Gravatational
Force (N)

0
Linear ()

0
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Mass 2 (kg)
Graph 3

Changing Distance
0
0
0
0

Gravatational Force (N)

f(x) = - 0x + 0

0
0
0
0
0

10

Distance (m)

12

Graph 4

Change Distance
f(x) = 0x + 0

For each of the straight-line graphs (1, 2, and 4), you should draw a best-fit line and calculate the
slope and y-intercept.
Now lets figure G, the Universal Gravitation constant.
For Graph 1, take your slope, multiply it by the distance squared, and divide it by the mass of
m2.
(1E-10 (4)^2)/25 = 6.4E-11
For Graph 2, take your slope, multiply it by the distance squared, and divide it by the mass of
m1.
(2E-10 (4)^2)/ 38 = 8.4210526E-11
For Graph 4, take your slope, divide it by the mass of m1, then divide it by the mass of m2.
The three numbers you get should be very close to each other. Average them and write them on
your lab report.
3.15789474E-11