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Unit 3: Gravity and Electromagnetism
Quick questions on Gravitational fields and potential energy: WACE Year 12 Physics Unit 3
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is field strength?Show answer
The gravitational field strength at a point is the force per unit mass placed there:
What is representing the field?Show answer
Field lines show the direction a small test mass would be pushed and, by their spacing, the strength. Around a single planet the lines are radial and inward, spreading out with distance so the field weakens as . Close to a small patch of surface the lines are nearly parallel and evenly spaced, which is why we treat the field as uniform for everyday problems.
What is potential energy near a surface?Show answer
When the field is treated as uniform, lifting a mass through a height changes its gravitational potential energy by
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