19 Worksheet (A2)

Data needed to answer questions can be found in the Data, formulae and relationships sheet.
1 Define gravitational field strength at a point in space. [1]
2 Show that the gravitational constant G has the unit N m
2
g
!2
. [2]
3 "he gravitational field strength on the surface of the #oon is 1.$ N g
!1
.
%hat is the weight of an astronaut of mass &' g standing on the surface of the #oon( [2]
4 )alculate the magnitude of the gravitational force between the ob*ects described below.
+ou ma, assume that the ob*ects are -point masses..
a two protons separated b, a distance of /.' 0 1'
!11
m
2mass of a proton 3 1.4 0 1'
!24
g5 [6]
b two binar, stars, each of mass /.' 0 1'
2&
g,
with a separation of &.' 0 1'
12
m [2]
c two 1/'' g elephants separated b, a distance of /.' m [2]
5 "he diagram shows the #oon and an artificial satellite orbiting round the 7arth.
"he radius of the 7arth is R.
a %rite an equation for the gravitational field strength g at a distance r from the centre of
an isolated ob*ect of mass M. [1]
b 8, what factor would the gravitational field decrease if the distance from the centre of
the mass were doubled( [2]
c "he satellite orbits at a distance of /R from the 7arth.s centre and the #oon is at a
distance of /9R. )alculate the ratio:
#oon of position at strength field nal gravitatio
satellite of position at strength field nal gravitatio
[6]
6 "he planet Neptune has a mass of 1.' 1'
2$
g and a radius of 2.2 1'
4
m.
)alculate the surface gravitational field strength of Neptune. [6]
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19 Worksheet (A2)
7 )alculate the radius of =luto, given its mass is /.' 1'
26
g and its surface
gravitational field strength has been estimated to be 1.' N g
!1
. [6]
8 ; space probe of mass 1&'' g is travelling from 7arth to the planet #ars.
"he space probe is midwa, between the planets. @se the data given to calculate:
a the gravitational force on the space probe due to the 7arth [6]
b the gravitational force on the space probe due to #ars [2]
c the acceleration of the probe due to the gravitational force acting on it. [6]
Data
separation between 7arth and #ars = 4.& 1'
1'
m
mass of 7arth = $.' 1'
21
g mass of #ars = $.1 1'
26
g
9 ;n artificial satellite orbits the 7arth at a height of 1'' m above its surface.
"he satellite has a mass /''' g, the radius of the 7arth is $1'' m and the mass of the
7arth is $.' 1'
21
g. Aor this satellite, calculate:
a the gravitational force eBperienced [6]
b its centripetal acceleration [2]
c its orbital speed. [6]
10 a 7Bplain what is meant b, the term gravitational potential at a point. [2]
b %rite down the gravitational potential energ, of a bod, of mass 1 g when it is at
an infinite distance from another bod,. [1]
c "he radius of the 7arth is $.1 1'
$
m and the mass of the 7arth = $.' 1'
21
g.
)alculate the potential energ, of the 1 g mass at the 7arth.s surface. [6]
d %rite down the minimum energ, required to remove the bod, totall, from the 7arth.s
gravitational field. [1]
11 "he planets in our solar s,stem orbit the Sun in almost circular orbits.
a Show that the orbital speed v of a planet at a distance r from the centre of the Sun is
given b,:
v 3
r
GM
[1]
b "he mean distance between the Sun and the 7arth is 1./ 1'
11
m and the mass of the Sun
is 2.' 1'
6'
g.
)alculate the orbital speed of the 7arth as it travels round the Sun. [2]
12 "here is a point between the 7arth and the #oon where the net gravitational field strength
is Cero. ;t this point the 7arth.s gravitational field strength is equal in magnitude but
opposite in direction to the gravitational field strength of the #oon.
Diven that:
#oon of mass
7arth of mass
3 &1
calculate how far this point is from the centre of the #oon in terms of R, where R is
the separation between the centres of the 7arth and the #oon. [1]
"otal:
/4
Score: E
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