Gravitational Field & Field Intensity — A/L Physics

Gravitational Field A region of space where a mass experiences a gravitational force. Any object with mass creates a gravitational field around itself. This field is the mechanism by which gravitational forces act at a distance. For example, the Earth’s gravitational field pulls a falling apple toward its centre, even though they are not in direct contact.

Gravitational Field Intensity (g) The gravitational force per unit mass placed at a point in the field. It is a vector quantity, always directed toward the mass creating the field. At a point near Earth’s surface, the field intensity is approximately 9.81 N kg⁻¹ downward. This is numerically equal to the acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m s⁻²), but conceptually it describes the field, not the motion.