Free Printable Gravity and Orbits

Worksheets

Gravity and Orbits

Total questions: 9

Worksheet time: 45mins

Name

Class

Date

The Earth moves around the Sun in a circular orbit with a radius of 1.5 × 10⁸ km. What is the Earth’s approximate speed?

1.5 × 10³ms^–1

5.0 × 10³ms^–1

1.0 × 10⁴ms^–1

3.0 × 10⁴ ms^–1

A planet of mass M and radius R rotates so rapidly that loose material at the equator only just remains on the surface. What is the period of rotation of the planet?

(G is the universal gravitational constant.)

$2\pi\sqrt{\frac{R}{GM}}$

$2\pi\sqrt{\frac{R^2}{GM}}$

$2\pi\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R^3}}$

$2\pi\sqrt{\frac{R^3}{GM}}$

The gravitational force between two uniform spheres is 3.1 × 10^–9 N when the distance between their centres is 150 mm. If the mass of one sphere is 2.5 kg, what is the mass of the other?

0.043 kg

0.42 kg

2.8 kg

4.1 kg

Masses of M and 2M exert a gravitational force F on each other when the distance between their centres is r. What is the gravitational force between masses of 2M and 4M when the distance between their centres is 4r?

0.25F

0.50F

0.75F

1.00F

Satellite X orbits the Earth with radius R. Satellite Y orbits at radius 4R. Which statement is incorrect?

The speed of Y is greater than the speed of X

The time period of Y is greater than the time period of X.

The potential energy of Y is greater than the potential energy of X.

The gravitational force acting on Y is less than the gravitational force acting on X.

Which of the following statements about Newton’s law of gravitation is correct? Newton’s gravitational law explains

the origin of gravitational forces

why a falling satellite burns up when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

why projectiles maintain a uniform horizontal speed.

how various factors affect the gravitational force between two particles

A planet has a radius half the Earth’s radius and a mass a quarter of the Earth’s mass. What is the approximate gravitational field strength on the surface of the planet?

1.6 N kg^–1

5.0 N kg^–1

10 N kg^–1

20 N kg^–1

An object on the surface of a planet of radius R and mass M has weight W. What would be the weight of the same object when on the surface of a planet of radius 2R and mass 2M?

W/4

W/2

The distance between the Sun and the Earth is 1.5 × 10¹¹ m. What is the gravitational force exerted on the Sun by the Earth?

3.5 × 10²² N

1.7 × 10²⁶ N

5.3 × 10³³ N

8.9 × 10⁵⁰ N

100 %

Gravity and Orbits

Total questions: 9

Worksheet time: 45mins

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