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Gravity, Orbits, and Circular Motion Practice

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A moon is located at 1 unit out from the planet it orbits. If that moon was orbiting at 2 units out from the planet, how much would the gravitational force on the moon be compared to its distance at 1 unit?

a)

14\frac{1}{4} of the original force

b)

16\frac{1}{6} of the original force

c)

twice as much

d)

4 times as much

2.

What happens to Gravitational force if I double both of the masses but don't change their distance?

a)

doubles

b)

half as big

c)

4 times bigger

d)

14\frac{1}{4} as much or 4 time smaller

3.

Two satellites of equal mass are in circular orbit around a planet. Satellite b is twice as far out. Which feels a stronger gravitational force?

a)

Satellite a

b)

Satellite b

c)

Both the same

4.
According to Kepler’s discoveries, planets orbit around the Sun:
a)
in an oval shape.
b)
in perfect circles.
c)
in an ellipse.
d)
in a rectangular shape.
5.

Calculate the force of gravity (F) between two objects whose masses are m1 = 100 kg and m2 = 1000 kg if they are separared by a distance of d = 500 m.

a)

2.67 * 10-11 N

b)

0.4 N

c)

6.67 * 10-11 N

d)

1.3 * 10-8 N

6.
Two objects are attracted to each other with 36 N of gravitational force.
What would the force between them be if the distance between them were doubled?
a)
9
b)
18
c)
72
d)
144
7.
If Earth's mass was cut in half, what would happen to your mass?
a)
increase because gravitational force increases
b)
decrease because gravitational force decreases
c)
decrease because gravitational force increases
d)
nothing, mass is not affected by gravitational force
8.
How are mass and weight different?
a)
Mass is the amount of matter in an object;Weight is the amount of gravitational force acting on the object
b)
Mass is the amount of gravitational force acting on an object;Weight is the amount of matter in an object
c)
Mass is a thing;Weight is a place
d)
Mass is an animal;weight is a human
9.

Which graph represents what happens to the force of gravity (Fg) between two objects as the distance between them increases?

a)
b)
c)
d)
10.
A planet moves __________ when it is farthest from the sun.
a)
faster
b)
slower
11.
The gravitational force between two massive spheres
a)
is always an attraction.
b)
depends on how massive they are.
c)
depends inversely on the square of the distances betwn them.
d)
all of the above
12.
Suppose Fg between two massive spheres M and m is F. If masses were M and 3m, Fg would be:
a)
1/3F
b)
3F
c)
1/9F
d)
9F
13.

The escape velocity on planet Earth does NOT depend on which of the following?

a)

mass of the earth

b)

mass of the escaping object

c)

radius of the earth

d)

universal gravitation constant

14.

Why can't the expression U = mgh be used to determine the gravitational potential energy of an earth-weather satellite system in geosynchronous orbit 35.8 km above the earth?

a)

The satellite's orbital period is twice that of the earth's rotational period

b)

The satellite is moving at a great speed.

c)

The value of g is different at the earth's surface at the satellite's location

d)

the value of g is the same at the earth's surface and at the satellite's location

e)

The value of g is always positive

15.
Which of the following depict the speed of the bowling ball?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
16.
A particle P is moving in a circle with uniform speed. Which one of the following diagrams correctly shows the direction of the acceleration a and velocity v of the particle at one instant of time?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
17.

SPEED OF A SATELLITE ORBITING EARTH depends on

(choose 2)

a)

satellite's speed

b)

satellite's mass

c)

satellite's distance

d)

Earth's mass

18.

The picture shows the gravitational field in the space surrounding the Earth. What is creating this gravitational field?

a)

The gravitational force.

b)

The mass of the Earth.

c)

The distance of the Earth.

d)

The universal gravitational constant.

19.
According to Kepler’s 3rd Law of Planetary Motion the farther a planet is located from the Sun...
a)
the shorter its period of revolution
b)
the longer its period of revolution
20.
The diagram to the left shows four positions of a planet in its orbit around the Sun. At which position would the planet’s speed be the greatest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
21.

Which configuration will result in the greatest gravitational force?

a)

small masses far apart

b)

large masses far apart

c)

small masses close together

d)

large masses close together

22.
Centripetal acceleration acts towards the ___________ of the circular motion
a)
center
b)
circumference
c)
outside
d)
radius
23.

Where is the net force when the rollercoaster is at the top of the loop?

a)

Towards the sky

b)

Towards the Right

c)

Towards the left

d)

Towards the center of the circle

24.

In uniform circular motion, the magnitude of the _______________________of an object is constant but the __________ is continually changing.

a)

speed, acceleration

b)

speed, direction

c)

acceleration, speed

d)

acceleration, velocity

25.

A curved groove is place on the top of a level table as shown in the diagram. A ball is pushed in the groove at P so that it leaves at Q. Which picture shows how the ball will move when it leaves the groove at Q?

a)
b)
c)
d)