Gravity, The Basics (High School Physics)
What you'll learn
- Master the basics of Newtonian Gravity.
- Solve linear motion problems (with constant acceleration).
- Understand and apply Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation and realise how it is derived.
- Understand what is meant by the word "Field" when talking about electric fields, magnetic fields or gravitational fields.
- Understand and apply the concept of gravitational fields to questions and problems.
- Solve questions involving the gravitational field strength
- Apply 1st and 2nd laws of Newton to gravity (which leads to the equivalence principle).
- Use circular motion principles to solve problems in Physics.
- Apply gravitational field notions and circular motion concepts to handle orbital motion.
- Apply the third law of Kepler.
- Understand the motion of celestial objects (moons, planets, stars etc).
Requirements
- Basics in algebra (equivalent grade 9)
- Basics in vector mathematics (equivalent grade 9) - Operations on vectors are reminded briefly during the course.
Description
Welcome to the Course: “Gravity, The Basics”
*** What you will learn ***
“Gravity, The Basics” teaches the elementary notions you need to understand and apply Newtonian gravity:
_ Solving 1-dimensional motion problems (Linear Kinematics),
_ Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation,
_ What are fields,
_ Gravitational fields and gravitational field strength,
_ Gravitational field lines,
_ Circular motion: angular velocity, centripetal acceleration and force, how to apply these notions to solve questions in physics,
_ Orbital motion and the third law of Kepler.
*** Who is this course for? ***
This course is suited for high school students studying Physics (from grade 10 to 12). The content of this course complies with Chapter 6 of the IB Physics Program and Topics 6.2 and 11 of the A-Level Curriculum.
It contains many exercises in all sections as well as exam inspired questions (especially section 6). This course is a very valuable tool for preparing any upcoming physics exam that may have questions related to gravity.
This course is also suited as a refresher for early university students that wish to solidify their understanding on Newtonian gravity.
And of course, any person interested in physics and in how the world works will also enjoy the voyage: I often invite my students on adventures beyond the academic…
*** Structure of the course ***
“Gravity, The Basics” is structured in 6 sections. All sections contain lessons, applied examples, exercises with detailed correction, fun science facts and anecdotes, and many tips and tricks on how to approach questions in Physics. The last section is a little different: it is composed of a general summary and the Gravity Quiz!
Section 1, “Linear Motion”, presents a step-by-step technique to solve all linear motion problems when the acceleration is constant. This class is not essential for this course, yet the resolution technique presented is an extra “weapon” for students in feeling confident when facing a physics problem that involves motion.
If you are familiar with linear motion, the SUVAT technique and are comfortable solving questions, you can skip this section. Otherwise, I recommend you view it and work on the exercises: it is truly a good investment for your study of Physics in general. Note that this section can be taken independently from the course.
Section 2, “Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation” is usually the first notion about gravity that is taught to students. If you are familiar with this, and can solve direct application questions, you can also skip this section. If not, I strongly recommend you go through this section and the exercises before moving forward with the course: Indeed, this section can be seen as the doorway to the deeper dive that follows.
Section 3, “Gravitational Fields” is the core of this course. This section teaches first what is a field, and then dives into a detailed description of gravitational fields, gravitational field strength and gravitational field lines. It is packed with many exercises aimed at making students comfortable with these notions.
Section 4: “Circular Motion” prepares for the section on orbital motion. You are presented with a detailed explanation of fundamental quantities that occur in circular motion (angles, angular velocity, centripetal acceleration and forces). As for section 1, the information provided in this section applies to many other areas of Physics (mechanics, electricity, magnetism, atomic, nuclear and particle physics).
Please note that section 4 can also be taken independently from the course.
Section 5, “Orbital Motion” discusses the motion of bodies in circular orbits around a massive object: This section blends notions taught in section 3 (gravitational fields) with notions presented in section 4 (circular motion). It also discusses the 3rd law of Kepler, so useful for astronomers!
Section 6: “Wrapping-up and Gravity Quiz”. You have viewed all 5 sections, and worked on the exercises? Then, it is time for the exam!
After a 5-minute summary of all notions presented in “Gravity, The Basics”, 12 exam-like questions are presented and corrected in detail.
*** Teaching style ***
My name is Edouard Reny, by training, I am a PhD in Solid State Chemistry and an engineer in Material Sciences. I have taught at university during my academic years. After this, during my industrial years, I have trained chemical engineers in electrochemical analytical techniques.
Since 2013, I am an independent teacher in Physics. I have supported about 5 dozen IB Physics, A-Level and AP students, one-on-one or in small groups. And, for now, 100% have passed their Physics exam!
The physics curricula that are taught today in high schools are truly fascinating, much more than 30 years ago when I myself was a high school student. Still, I do observe a problem… I see it during the first sessions with a new student: a lack of enthusiasm and no fascination whatsoever for the marvels they are being shown… For high school students, Physics appears just like another painful topic to handle…
After a few months with me, the students start to feel the fascination, and get inspired by it. Many of my students, that took a tutor (me) just to help them pass this “horrible” topic, got high marks at exams. And guess what, a large fraction of these are now graduating in an area of Physics at University! They got hooked!
My teaching style is focused on inspiring students, because when you are hooked, study becomes a hobby, and when an activity becomes a hobby, it becomes also painless to get good at it: Consequence: the marks go up significantly.
So expect me using equations yes, and a lot of them, as tools to discuss their true meaning. These equations will allow us to travel and observe the diamonds of our cosmos: For example, in this course we will embark for a voyage towards the underground oceans of Enceladus (a moon of Saturn), above the steaming volcanoes of Io (a moon of Jupiter), within the icy worlds of the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the Solar System, and even nearby an exploding star.
This is how I teach Physics, by making you fascinated by the marvels of our Universe.
*** What does this course NOT contain – and potential future developments ***
This course focuses on the basic notions of gravitation only, and follows standard level high school curricula. It does not introduce more advanced notions like gravitational potential energy or gravitational potentials, which can be taught in the higher levels of some of these curricula.
The course also remains within the boundaries of Newtonian Gravity: It does not mention nor describe any notions relative to Einstein’s General Relativity.
This course was a lot of work to put together (around 200-300 hours): if it meets success and upon request of students, I will consider developing a similar course format for Gravitational Potentials (“Gravity, Advanced”) and eventually a course for General Relativity. If I do this, these will also conform with High School curricula.
*** Enjoy the Voyage! ***
Now, it’s time to tighten your seat-belt, and let’s get started!
Who this course is for:
- High school students taking Physics.
- High school students preparing their exams in Physics (IB, A-Levels etc...).
- Entry university students that need a 'refresher' in the basics of Newtonian Gravity.
- Any person that is interested in the Physics of Newtonian gravity.
- High School Physics Teachers that are looking for inspiration to teach their own classes on the subject.
Instructor
![Edouard Reny](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 466 Reviews
- 2,018 Students
- 5 Courses
Edouard Andre Reny was born in 1971 in Bordeaux, France. Long studies in sciences armed him a PhD in solid state chemistry which led him to a post doctorate contract at Hiroshima University, Japan. In his early thirties, he integrated a large water treatment corporation in The Netherlands as a senior researcher. A decade later, he decided to fly with his own wings by founding his own company, “Synaptic Machines”, that brought together his interests in sciences, his drive to share it with the world, and his passion and talent for music. Why not make a living with what one truly loves!
This coincided with the realisation that he was a damn good teacher. To support financially his bran new company, he started tutoring a few kids in their late teens to prepare for their International Baccalaureate and A-levels in Physics. The success rates were so high, and he enjoyed so much helping these kids, he decided to make this activity a primary professional objective! Today, he is helping a dozen students on a weekly basis, and nearly as many are on a waiting list!
On the music side, since his teenage years, Edouard has been composing and playing as a multi-instrumentalist in various pop-rock, blues, rock, jazz, heavy metal, folk, singer-songwriter, and electro bands. He is also known as “Edward Keys” or “Synaptic-Machines”. Very exigent about sonic quality, Edouard studied as an autodidact sound engineering, mixing techniques and mastering in order to enhance his own productions. Today, backed by 25 years of experience in music production, he professionalised, and sales licenses for use of his composition to various media (TV, radio, Web videos etc.).
Edouard discovered Udemy early 2017. It felt like a perfect opportunity to share with other, on a wide scale, the knowledge he has accumulated, and which has led him to a fulfilling professional life full of music, passion for science, and most importantly gratitude from his students. He will release his first course around spring 2017 (Producing Music in Propellerhead Reason). He intends to work on new online courses around 3 themes (music, Physics and well-being) and hopes to publish at least two per year.