Gravitational Field Strength (CIE IGCSE Physics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

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Katie M

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Katie M

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Gravitational attraction of the Sun

  • Orbital motion is a result of the gravitational force of attraction acting between two bodies
  • This gravitational force
    • always acts towards the centre of the larger body
    • causes the orbiting body to move in a circular path
  • The Sun contains most of the mass (>99%) of the Solar System
  • Therefore, for objects orbiting around the Sun
    • the Sun's gravitational attraction keeps them in orbit
    • the force is directed from the orbiting object to the centre of the Sun

Orbital motion of the Earth around the Sun

6-1-5-motion-in-an-orbit

The Sun's gravitational force of attraction keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun

Orbital motion of planets

Extended tier only

  • As the distance from the Sun increases:
    • the Sun's gravitational field strength decreases
    • the orbital speed of a planet decreases
  • For an object to maintain a circular orbit, it must have a centripetal force
    • For planets orbiting the Sun, this force is the Sun's gravitational attraction
  • Therefore, the centripetal force on a planet depends on
    • the strength of the Sun's gravitational field
    • the distance of the planet from the Sun
  • The further away a planet is from the Sun, the weaker the strength of the Sun's gravitational attraction and the weaker the centripetal force
  • The centripetal force on a planet is proportional to its orbital speed
  • Therefore, the further a planet is from the Sun:
    • the smaller its orbital speed
    • the longer its orbital period

Orbital speed and distance

Orbit of planets around the Sun, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes

The closest planets to the Sun have the fastest orbital speeds, and the furthest have the slowest

  • This trend in orbital speed and distance can be seen in the data of the planets in the Solar System:

Orbital radius, speed and period data

Planet Orbital radius (million km) Orbital speed (km/s) Orbital period (days or years)
Mercury 57.9 47.9 88 days
Venus 108.2 35.0 225 days
Earth 149.6 29.8 365 days
Mars 227.9 24.1 687 days
Jupiter 778.6 13.1 11.9 years
Saturn 1433.5 9.7 29.5 years
Uranus 2872.5 6.8  75 years
Neptune 4495.1 5.4 165 years

Examiner Tip

Be careful with your wording in this topic when talking about gravity. It is important to refer to the force of gravity as 'gravitational attraction', ' strength of the Sun's gravitational field' or 'the force due to gravity'. Avoid terms such as 'the Sun's gravity' or even more vague, 'the force from the Sun'. 

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Katie M

Author: Katie M

Expertise: Physics

Katie has always been passionate about the sciences, and completed a degree in Astrophysics at Sheffield University. She decided that she wanted to inspire other young people, so moved to Bristol to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science. She particularly loves creating fun and absorbing materials to help students achieve their exam potential.