Gravitational Forces

A diagram of a star and planet system is shown here

.

The gravitational attraction between these two objects would be reduced to one quarter of its current

value if which of the following changes were made?

• A. Reducing the masses of both objects to one fourth their current values

• B. Increasing the distance between the star and the planet to twice its current value

• C. Doubling the mass of the star and reducing the mass of the planet by one half

• D. Increasing the distance between the star and the planet to four times its current value

There is a mathematical relationship between the mass of two bodies and the distance between their

centers. This relationship describes the force of gravity between them. If you triple the distance

between the two bodies, what happens to the force of gravity?

• It is reduced to one-third its original value.

• It is reduced to one-ninth its original value.

• It is increased to three times its original value.

• It is increased to nine times its original value.

All objects are attracted to each other by a graviational force. Boulders A and B are 5 meters apart. Boulders C and D are also 5 meters apart. If Boulders A and B both have a mass of 5 kilograms and Boulders C and D both have a mass of 7 kilograms, between which set of boulders is the gravitational

attraction the greatest?

• A. Between boulders A and B, gravitational attraction is greatest with increased mass.

• B. Between boulders A and B, gravitational attraction is greatest with decreased mass.

• C. Between boulders C and D, gravitational force is greatest with increased mass.

• D. Between boulders C and D, gravitational force is greatest with decreased mass.

Two rocks fall from the top of a 10 meter cliff. One rock has a mass of 1 kg and the other has a mass of 2 kg. Which rock has a greater gravitational attraction to Earth?

• A. The 1 kg rock has a greater gravitational attraction to Earth because it has less mass.

• B. The 1 kg rock has a greater gravitational attraction to Earth because it has more mass.

• C. The 2 kg rock has a greater gravitational attraction to Earth because it has less mass.

• D. The 2 kg rock has a greater gravitational attraction to Earth because it has more mass.

Which of the following would result in an increase in the gravitational attraction between two objects?

• A. The masses of both objects are increased, and the distance between them is increased.

• B. The masses of both objects are increased, and the distance between them is decreased.

• C. The masses of both objects are decreased, and the distance between them is decreased.

• D. The masses of both objects are decreased, and the distance between them is increased.

A scientist is doing experiments with gravitational force. She obtains an old car to run tests on the impact of the force of gravity between the car and Earth. What could the scientist do if she wants to increase the gravitational force?

• A. open the doors of the car

• B. put people in the car

• C. start the car engine

• D. take the tires off of the car

Two artificial satellites orbit Earth, with a constant distance of 400,000 m between them. On Earth's surface, Satellite 1 weighed 9,800 N and Satellite 2 weighed 3,920 N.

What gravitational force does Satellite 1 exert on Satellite 2?

• A. 5.83 x 10^-19 N

• B. 1.66 x 10^-16 N

• c. 1.60 x 10^-14N

• D 6.65 x 10^-11N

The acceleration of gravity on the surface of Earth is 9.8 m/s/s. On the Moon the acceleration of gravity is 1/6 of this value. If a woman has a mass of 60 kg, what will her weight be on the Moon in newtons (N)?

• A. 0.027 N

• B. 98 N

• C. 360 N

• D. 588 N

A device has two mass holders that are located 0.5 m apart. The masses of objects placed on the holder are shown in the chart below. Which set of objects would have the largest gravitational force between them?

• A. Objects 1 and 4

• B. Objects 1 and 2

• C. Objects 2 and 3

• D. Objects 2 and 4

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation dictates the relationship between the masses of two objects, the distance between them, and the resulting force of gravitational attraction. If the mass of one object becomes twice as large, how will this affect its gravitational force on another object?

• A. It will be reduced to one-fourth

• B. It will become twice as large

• C. It will be reduced by half

• D. It will become four times as large