Retired Physics Curriculum: Universal Gravitation

Objectives, reading, homework and equations for the unit.

Introduction to gravity through Keplers Third Law and Newton's Laws of Motion

Shows how to find the power relationship between two variables with a log-log graph.

Problems based on universal gravitation.

Finding the mass of Jupiter from the orbital data of the moons of Jupiter.

These problems involve work, potential and kinetic energy.

Notes deriving potential energy, escape velocity and orbital energy.

Derives the total energy equation for an elliptical orbit.

Derivations of Kepler's Laws from Newton's Laws. The first three pages are easy - after that is optional and needs advanced math.

Reference sheet of orbital data for the solar system.

Uses calculus to show a uniform sphere can be treated as if all the mass was at its center when using Newton's gravitational law.

Did this years ago and have never handed it out, or even talked about it. Just shows how to reduce two masses orbiting each other into a simpler central force problem.

Shows position, velocity and acceleration in polar coordinates. Needed to derive elliptical orbits from universal gravitation.

Derives equation of conic sections in polar coordinates. Needed to derive elliptical orbits.

Some simpler circular orbit problems not involving energy.