DP Physics Questionbank

Description

Nature of science:
Laws: Newton’s law of gravitation and the laws of mechanics are the foundation for deterministic classical physics. These can be used to make predictions but do not explain why the observed phenomena exist. (2.4)

Understandings:

• Newton’s law of gravitation
• Gravitational field strength

Applications and skills:

• Describing the relationship between gravitational force and centripetal force
• Applying Newton’s law of gravitation to the motion of an object in circular orbit around a point mass
• Solving problems involving gravitational force, gravitational field strength, orbital speed and orbital period
• Determining the resultant gravitational field strength due to two bodies

Guidance:

• Newton’s law of gravitation should be extended to spherical masses of uniform density by assuming that their mass is concentrated at their centre
• Gravitational field strength at a point is the force per unit mass experienced by a small point mass at that point
• Calculations of the resultant gravitational field strength due to two bodies will be restricted to points along the straight line joining the bodies

Data booklet reference:

Theory of knowledge:

• The laws of mechanics along with the law of gravitation create the deterministic nature of classical physics. Are classical physics and modern physics compatible? Do other areas of knowledge also have a similar division between classical and modern in their historical development?

Utilization:

• The law of gravitation is essential in describing the motion of satellites, planets, moons and entire galaxies
• Comparison to Coulomb’s law (see Physics sub-topic 5.1)

Aims:

• Aim 4: the theory of gravitation when combined and synthesized with the rest of the laws of mechanics allows detailed predictions about the future position and motion of planets

Directly related questions

• 18M.2.HL.TZ2.6d: The mass of the asteroid is 6.2 × 1012 kg. Calculate the gravitational force experienced by the...
• 18M.2.HL.TZ2.6a.i: State what is meant by gravitational field strength.
• 18M.1.SL.TZ1.23: Newton’s law of gravitation A.     is equivalent to Newton’s second law of motion. B.   ...
• 17N.2.SL.TZ0.5a: Determine the orbital period for the satellite. Mass of Earth = 6.0 x 1024 kg
• 17M.2.HL.TZ2.8c: Outline, in terms of the force acting on it, why the Earth remains in a circular orbit around the...
• 17M.1.HL.TZ2.19: The centre of the Earth is separated from the centre of the Moon by a distance D. Point P lies...
• 17M.1.SL.TZ2.23: The gravitational field strength at the surface of Earth is g. Another planet has double...
• 17M.1.SL.TZ1.15: Two pulses are travelling towards each other. What is a possible pulse shape when the pulses...
• 16N.2.SL.TZ0.6a: (i) Define gravitational field strength. (ii) State the SI unit for gravitational field strength.
• 16M.2.HL.TZ0.2b: Calculate the magnitude and state the direction of the resultant gravitational field strength at...
• 16M.2.HL.TZ0.2a: On the diagram above, draw two arrows to show the gravitational field strength at the position of...
• 16M.2.SL.TZ0.2b: Calculate the magnitude of the resultant gravitational field strength at the position of the planet.
• 16M.2.SL.TZ0.2a: Show that the gravitational field strength at the position of the planet due to one of the stars...
• 16N.1.SL.TZ0.23: On Mars, the gravitational field strength is about \(\frac{1}{4}\) of that on Earth. The mass of...
• 15M.1.HL.TZ1.22: Which single condition enables Newton’s universal law of gravitation to be used to predict the...
• 15M.1.SL.TZ1.19: Which single condition enables Newton’s universal law of gravitation to be used to predict the...
• 15M.1.SL.TZ2.19: A planet has half the mass and half the radius of the Earth. What is the gravitational field...
• 15M.2.SL.TZ1.6c: The following data are available. Mass of the ball = 0.20 kg Mean radius of the Moon =...
• 15M.2.SL.TZ1.6b: Use the graph to (i) estimate the velocity of the ball at t \( = \) 0.80 s. (ii) calculate a...
• 15M.2.SL.TZ1.6d: Calculate the speed of an identical ball when it falls 3.0 m from rest close to the surface of...
• 15M.2.SL.TZ1.6e: Sketch, on the graph, the variation with time t of the displacement s from the point of release...
• 15M.2.HL.TZ2.6c: Outline, with reference to the energy of the rocket, why the speed of the rocket is changing...
• 15M.2.HL.TZ2.6d: Estimate the average gravitational field strength of the planet between P and Q.
• 15N.1.HL.TZ0.23: The Earth is a distance \({r_S}\) from the Sun. The Moon is a distance \({r_M}\) from the...
• 15N.1.SL.TZ0.21: What is the correct definition of gravitational field strength? A.     The mass per unit...
• 14N.1.SL.TZ0.19: What is the definition of gravitational field strength at a point? A. Force acting per unit mass...
• 12N.1.SL.TZ0.23: The centres of two planets are separated by a distance R. The gravitational force between the two...
• 12N.1.HL.TZ0.29: The acceleration of free fall of a mass of 2.0 kg close to the surface of Mars is 3.6 ms–2. What...
• 13N.1.SL.TZ0.21: The force F between particles in gravitational and electric fields is related to the separation r...
• 12M.1.SL.TZ1.19: A mass at point X gives rise to a gravitational field strength g at point P as shown below. An...
• 11M.1.SL.TZ2.19: A spacecraft travels away from Earth in a straight line with its motors shut down. At one instant...
• 13M.2.HL.TZ1.11b: A satellite of mass m orbits a planet of mass M. Derive the following relationship between the...
• 13M.2.HL.TZ1.11c: A polar orbiting satellite has an orbit which passes above both of the Earth’s poles. One polar...
• 13M.2.HL.TZ1.11a: State Newton’s universal law of gravitation.
• 13M.2.SL.TZ2.6b: In a simple model of the hydrogen atom, the electron can be regarded as being in a circular orbit...
• 13M.1.SL.TZ2.19: The magnitude of the gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet of mass M and radius...
• 12M.1.HL.TZ1.22: An astronaut of mass 60 kg is on board the International Space Station, which is in low orbit...
• 12M.2.SL.TZ2.9a: The magnitude of gravitational field strength g is defined from the equation shown...
• 12M.2.SL.TZ1.7a: State Newton’s universal law of gravitation.
• 12M.2.SL.TZ1.7b: Deduce that the gravitational field strength g at the surface of a spherical planet of uniform...
• 12M.2.SL.TZ1.7c: The gravitational field strength at the surface of Mars gM is related to the gravitational field...
• 12M.2.HL.TZ2.7a: The magnitude of gravitational field strength g is defined from the equation shown...
• 12M.2.HL.TZ2.7b: In a simple model of the hydrogen atom, the electron is regarded as being in a circular orbit...
• 12N.2.SL.TZ0.9a: State, in words, Newton’s universal law of gravitation.
• 11M.1.SL.TZ1.20: A spherical planet of uniform density has three times the mass of the Earth and twice the average...
• 11M.2.HL.TZ1.2a: State why the work done by the gravitational force during one full revolution of the probe is...
• 09M.1.SL.TZ1.19: The mass of Earth is \({M_{\text{E}}}\), its radius is \({R_{\text{E}}}\) and the magnitude of...
• 09N.1.SL.TZ0.19: A small sphere X of mass \(M\) is placed a distance \(d\) from a point mass. The gravitational...
• 10M.1.SL.TZ1.19: The weight of an object of mass 1 kg at the surface of Mars is about 4 N. The radius of Mars is...
• 10N.1.SL.TZ0.21: The mass of a planet is twice that of Earth. Its radius is half that of the radius of Earth. The...