Gravitation and Planetary Orbits

One factor responsible for the strength of gravitational attraction between a planet and the Sun is the

• degree of tilt of the planet’s axis

• distance between the planet and the Sun

• planet’s period of rotation

• amount of insolation given off by the Sun

Answer explanation

The strength of gravitational attraction between a planet and the Sun is primarily influenced by the distance between them. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, as distance increases, gravitational force decreases.

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The force of gravity between two objects is greatest when

• masses are small and the objects are close together

• masses are small and the objects are far apart

• masses are large and the objects are close together

• masses are large and the objects are far apart

Answer explanation

The force of gravity is determined by the masses of the objects and the distance between them. It is greatest when both masses are large and they are close together, maximizing the gravitational attraction.

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The symbols shown represent star masses and distances.

Which diagram shows two stars that have the greatest gravitational force between them?

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Which of Jupiter’s moons experiences the greatest gravitational force of attraction to Jupiter?

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Which graph best represents the relationship between the gravitational attraction of two objects and their distance from each other?

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The force of gravity between two objects will be weakest if their masses are

• small and they are far apart

• small and they are close together

• large and they are far apart

• large and they are close together

Answer explanation

The force of gravity is determined by the masses of the objects and the distance between them. The force is weakest when the masses are small and they are far apart, as both factors reduce gravitational attraction.

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In each diagram below, the mass of the star is the same. In which diagram is the force weakest between the star and the planet show?

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In the diagram below, letters A, B, and C represent three identical satellites and their relative distances from Earth as seen from space. Which satellite would experience the weakest pull of Earth’s gravity? Explain your answer.

Answer explanation

Satellite C, being the farthest from Earth, experiences the weakest pull of Earth's gravity. Gravity decreases with distance, so the farther a satellite is, the less gravitational force it feels.

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In the diagram below, letters A through D represent the locations of four observers on the Earth's surface. Each observer has the same mass.

The gravitational force is strongest between the center of the Earth and the observer at location

• A

• B

• C

• D

Answer explanation

The gravitational force is strongest at the location closest to the center of the Earth. Since location D is at sea level, it is closest to the Earth's center compared to the other locations, making the gravitational force strongest there.

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Which graph best represents the change in gravitational attraction between the Sun and a comet as the distance between them increases?

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