Gravitational Field Strength

• Gravitational Field Strength


  The strength of gravity on different planets affects an object's weight on that planet
• Weight


  The force acting on an object due to gravitational attraction
• Planets have strong gravitational fields and attract nearby masses with a strong gravitational force
• Objects stay firmly on the ground, objects will always fall to the ground, and satellites are kept in orbit due to the planet's gravitational field strength
• The weight of any body and the value of the gravitational field strength (g) differs between the surface of the Earth and the surface of other bodies in space, including the Moon, because of the planet or moon's mass
• The greater the mass of the planet, the greater its gravitational field strength
• A higher gravitational field strength means a larger attractive force towards the centre of that planet or moon
• The gravitational field strength (g) varies with the distance from a planet, but on the surface of the planet, it is roughly the same
• The gravitational field strength (g) on the Earth is approximately 10 N/kg
• The gravitational field strength on the surface of the Moon is less than on the Earth, meaning it would be easier to lift a mass on the surface of the Moon than on the Earth
• The gravitational field strength on the surface of the gas giants (e.g. Jupiter and Saturn) is more than on the Earth, meaning it would be harder to lift a mass on the gas giants than on the Earth
• On such planets as Jupiter, an object's mass remains the same at all points in space, but their weight will be a lot greater, meaning for example, a human will be unable to fully stand up