Gravitational Forces

Planets would crash into the sun if it weren't for:

• their vast distances from the sun.

• their relatively small masses.

• the inverse-square law.

• their tangential velocities.

• the fact that they are beyond the main gravitation of the sun.

  
  

Answer explanation

Inward gravitational force (toward the Sun) & the outward tangential velocity (used to continually determine hypotenuses all around the revolution of a planet) create an orbit:

Planets continuously "fall" towards the Sun but keeps missing it due to its tangential velocity.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

According to Newton:

The GREATER the masses of interacting objects,

The __________________________________

• less the gravitational force between them.

• gravitational force between them is constant

• greater the force between them by the square of the masses.

• greater the gravitational force between them.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

The period of a satellite, the time it takes for a complete revolution, depends on the satellite's

• radial distance from the center of its orbit

• mass.

• weight.

• all of these.

• none of these.

Answer explanation

2π (approximately 6.28318) is used to represent one full revolution or one complete orbit around a circle or an ellipse. In the context of planetary motion, this often appears in formulas related to angular displacement, angular velocity, and orbital period.

For what the problem is asking, we need the satellite's orbital radius to follow with Kepler's Law.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Two objects attract each other gravitationally.  If the distance between their centers is cut in half, the gravitational force:

• doubles.

• quadruples

• is cut to 1/4.

• is cut to 1/2

Answer explanation

Right Click and "Open in New Tab" to see it more clearly😅

Why is it so small?

(that's what she said)

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

According to Newton, doubling the DISTANCE (d) between two interacting objects will do WHAT do the gravitational force?

• (Gravitational Force) / 2

• (Gravitational Force) x 2

• (Gravitational Force) x 4

• (Gravitational Force) / 4

Answer explanation

Right Click and "Open in New Tab" to see it more clearly😅

Why is it so tiny?

(that's what she said)

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

A woman on the surface of the Earth has a mass of 50 kilograms and a weight of 490 newtons. If the woman were floating freely inside a space habitat far away from Earth, she would have:

• LESS weight and LESS mass.

• MORE weight and LESS mass.

• LESS weight and the same mass.

• LESS weight and MORE mass.

• none of these (somehow)

The amount of gravitational force that acts on the space shuttle while in orbit is:

• the same as the shuttle's weight on the Earth's surface.

• nearly zero.

• almost as much as the shuttle's weight on the Earth's surface.

• more than the shuttle's weight on the Earth's surface.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

If you drop a stone into a hole drilled all the way to the other side of the Earth (neglect the molten core), the stone will

• slow down until it reaches the center of the Earth.

• come to an ABRUPT STOP at the center of the Earth.

• speed up until it reaches the OTHER SIDE of the Earth.

• speed up until it gets to the CENTER of the Earth.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-1

What prevents satellites such as the space shuttle from falling?

• gravity

• centripetal force

• centrifugal force

• the absence of air drag

• Nothing; they are continually falling as they orbit the Earth.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

The circular path of a satellite orbiting the Earth is characterized by a constant

• radial distance (r)

• acceleration (a)

• speed (v)

• ALL OF THESE

• NONE OF THESE

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-4