Gravitation
Knowledge you need to have:
Knowledge that the energy required to move mass between two points in a gravitational field is independent of the path taken.
Definition of escape velocity as the minimum velocity required to allow a mass to escape a gravitational field to infinity, where the mass achieves zero kinetic energy and maximum (zero) potential energy.
Definition of gravitational field strength as the gravitational force acting on a unit mass.
Definition of the gravitational potential of a point in space as the work done in moving unit mass from infinity to that point.
Skills you need to develop:
Conversion between astronomical units (AU) and metres and between light-years (ly) and metres.
Sketch of gravitational field lines and field line patterns around astronomical objects and astronomical systems involving two objects.
Derivation of the escape velocity relationship
Use of an appropriate relationship to carry out calculations involving gravitational force, masses and their separation.
Use of appropriate relationships to carry out calculations involving period of satellites in circular orbit, masses, orbit radius, and satellite speed.
Use of appropriate relationships to carry out calculations involving gravitational potential, gravitational potential energy, masses and their separation.
Use of an appropriate relationship to carry out calculations involving escape velocity, mass and distance.