Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: Solving

Open Ended

Both the satellite and the Moon are influenced by earth's gravity, yet their orbital speeds are very different. What could explain WHY their speeds so different?

Multiple Choice

Earth's mass suddenly doubles, but its radius stays the same. What happens to the gravitational force between Earth and the Moon?

• The force doubles

• The force quadruples

• The force halves

• The force remains the same

Multiple Choice

As mass increases, what happens to gravitational force?

• increases
• decreases
• stays the same
• i don't know

Multiple Choice

As distance increases, what happens to gravitational force?

• increases
• decreases
• stays the same
• i don't know

Multiple Choice

Which of the following steps is NOT necessary when entering the gravitational force equation into a TI-30XIIS calculator?

• Entering the gravitational constant

• Multiplying both the masses

• Dividing by the sum of the distances

• Using parentheses to separate numerator and denominator

Multiple Select

Select all variables that must be identified before calculating the gravitational force on a satellite in orbit.

• Universal gravitational constant (G)

• Mass of the satellite (m2)

• Distance from Earth's surface to satellite

• Mass of Earth (m1)

Open Ended

Describe how orbital speed and orbital period change as the orbital radius increases. Use the formulas provided to support your explanation.

Open Ended

Explain why both masses matter equally in the calculation of gravitational force and how this principle affects the interaction between two objects.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best explains the inverse square law as it applies to gravitational force?

• Gravitational force increases linearly with distance.

• Gravitational force weakens rapidly with distance, reducing to one-quarter when the separation doubles.

• Gravitational force remains constant regardless of distance.

• Gravitational force doubles when the distance is doubled.

Open Ended

What is one question you still have about how gravity affects the orbital motion of satellites and celestial bodies?