Interactive simulations for science teaching
400 downloadable interactive simulations
Earth/Moon gravitational field
This simulation is in light version. Subscribe now!
- Summary
- Gravitational fields (and force!) obey the principle of superposition. You can show that the field follows a spherical symmetry near the planets but the influence of the Earth extends farther because of its superior mass (80 times Moon's mass).
Notice the existence of a single point where the g field is equal to zero.
Click on the screen to show or erase the field lines.
This animation is not done to scale.
- Learning objectives
- To apply the superposition principle to determine the gravitational field at any point between the Earth and the Moon.
- To show how stronger is the earth's field compared to the Moon's one.
- How to use the animation
Click on the screen to display the field lines.
- Keywords
- gravitation, field-lines, earth, moon, superposition, Newton,
- Share your ideas with us!
- Share your ideas with us!