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Andre Soriano 2013

Never get a gravity question wrong again:



Almost all gravity questions will ask you to find Mass (M), Velocity (V), Period (T) or Radius (R).

Therefore, all you have to do is identify what the question is asking for and sub in given information
into the given formulas on the data sheet (given in the exam) or these transposed formulas to save
you time (I really dont see why you shouldnt put these on your cheat sheet if you havent already):



Apart from this, the questions can only get a little more complicated. I found that all I had to is
make sure these checkpoints are fulfilled and I got full marks:

Get the radius right! Sometimes the question gives you the distance from an object like
a satellite to the surface of the planet you still need to add the radius of the planet on
top of the given radius.
Triple check (or just check quickly if youre low on time) you subbed in the values
correctly on your calculator and squared/cubed when necessary especially the radius
formula. Did you remember the Cube root at the start?
Make sure the question doesnt dog you and give you crappy units. Radius is in metres,
mass is in kilograms etc convert where necessary. ***The default unit for period is in
seconds but I usually come across questions that ask for it in days or years.
If the question is talking about ratios and includes radius and period, you may be
required to use the below formula to get either radius or period or a ratio (which has no
units):
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- The subscript (numbers at the bottom) just show that the cube radius of an
object divided by its own period squared is equal to the cube radius divided by
the squared period of a different object. If you confused, just think of it
disregard it or think of it as the gradient rule in maths:



I hope this helps, good luck for the physics exam.

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