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DP IB Physics: HL

Topic Questions

Home / IB / Physics: HL / DP / Topic Questions / 6. Circular Motion & Gravitation / 6.2 Newton’s Law of Gravitation / Multiple Choice


6.2 Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Question 1

Marks: 1

The mass of a potential landing module heading for Jupiter is 4000 kg. The gravitational field strength on Jupiter is roughly 2.5 times that on Earth. What is the weight of the landing module on Earth?

  • 4000 N

  • 100 000 N

  • 10 000 N

  • 40 000 N  

Choose your answer
  

Question 2

Marks: 1

A planet has triple the mass of Earth and a third of its radius. What is the gravitational field strength on the surface of the planet?

  • 10 N kg-1

  • 270 N kg-1

  • 90 N kg-1

  • 240 N kg-1

Choose your answer
  

Question 3

Marks: 1

The diagram below shows three uniform masses in a straight line.

q13_newtons-law-of-gravitation_ib-sl-physics-mcq

The resultant gravitational force on the 1 kg mass is zero if the distance x is:

  • 45 over 7 straight m

  • 45 m

  • 27 over 5 straight m

  • 35 m

Choose your answer
  

Question 4

Marks: 1

The gravitational force between two identical uniform spheres of mass M is F when the distance between them d.

q14_newtons-law-of-gravitation_ib-sl-physics-mcq

If the radius of each sphere is x, what is the correct expression for mass, M?

  • fraction numerator straight F left parenthesis d plus 2 x right parenthesis squared over denominator straight G end fraction

  • square root of fraction numerator straight F d squared over denominator straight G end fraction end root

  • square root of fraction numerator straight F left parenthesis d plus 2 x right parenthesis over denominator straight G end fraction end root

  • square root of fraction numerator straight F left parenthesis d plus 2 x right parenthesis squared over denominator straight G end fraction end root

Choose your answer
  

Question 5

Marks: 1

A satellite of mass m is placed in a geostationary orbit. If the Earth’s angular velocity is ω rad s–1, what is the circumference of the satellite’s orbit?

  • open parentheses fraction numerator G M over denominator omega squared end fraction close parentheses to the power of 1 third end exponent

  • 2 straight pi square root of GMm over straight omega squared end root

  • 2 straight pi open parentheses fraction numerator G M over denominator straight omega squared end fraction close parentheses

  • 2 straight pi open parentheses fraction numerator G M over denominator straight omega squared end fraction close parentheses to the power of 1 third end exponent

Choose your answer
  
Key Concepts
Circular Orbits

Question 6

Marks: 1

A spherical planet of uniform density has two times the mass of the Earth and three times the average radius. The magnitude of the gravitational field strength at the surface of the Earth is g. What is the gravitational field strength at the surface of the planet?

  • 3 over 4 g

  • 2 over 3 g

  • 2 over 9 g

  • 18g

Choose your answer
  

Question 7

Marks: 1

The inverse square law means that halving the radius of a planet results in quadrupling the gravitational field strength at its surface.

The centres of two planets are separated by a distance R. The gravitational force between the two planets is F. What will the force between the planets be when their separation increases to 4R?

  • F over 16

  • 4F

  • F over 4

  • F

Choose your answer
  

Question 8

Marks: 1

A mass at point P gives rise to a gravitational field strength g at point X as shown.

q18_1_newtons-law-of-gravitation_ib-sl-physics-mcq

An identical mass is placed at point Q as shown.

q18_2_newtons-law-of-gravitation_ib-sl-physics-mcq

What is the resultant gravitational field strength at X in this new situation?

  • zero

  • between g and zero

  • between 2g and g 

  • greater than 2g

Choose your answer
  

Question 9

Marks: 1

A spacecraft travels away from Earth in a straight line with its motors shut down. At one instant, the speed of the spacecraft is 5.7 km s-1. After a time of 1000 s, the speed is 5.2 km s-1. The gravitational field strength acting on the spacecraft during this time interval is:

  • –5 × 10–4 N kg–1

  • 5 × 101 N kg–1

  • –5 × 10–1 N kg–1

  • –1 × 101 N kg–1

Choose your answer
  

Question 10

Marks: 1

Which of the following statements about uniform gravitational fields is incorrect?

  • The field strength is equal at every point in a uniform gravitational field

  • The acceleration of freefalling bodies is dependent on their mass

  • The field lines in a uniform gravitational field are parallel to each other  

  • There is a uniform gravitational field near the Earth’s surface

Choose your answer