Gravitational Fields and Forces

Practice Problems
Gravitational Fields and Forces

Directions: On this worksheet you will examine the properties of gravitational forces and fields.

omit

Question 1 Two masses, 3 kg and 7 kg, initially at rest, are both released and fall freely to the ground. Which mass would experience the greater acceleration while falling?

3 kgboth masses experience the same acceleration7 kg

omit

Question 2 When initially released, which mass experienced the greater gravitational force of attraction to the earth?

both masses experience the same gravitational force of attraction7 kg3 kg

omit

Question 3 When initially released, which mass weighed more in the earth's gravitational field?

7 kg both masses weighed the same3 kg

omit

Question 4 If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 2.583 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?

4 x 10^-11 N1 x 10^-10 N2.33 x 10^-11 N2.1 x 10^-10 N

omit

Question 5 On the surface of Planet X a 41-kg mass weighs 937.5 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?

13.1 N/kg95.7 N/kg0.044 N/kg22.9 N/kg

omit

Question 6 If Planet X has the same radius as the Earth, what is the mass of Planet X? If needed, the mass of the Earth is 5.98 x 10²⁴ kg.

1.4 x 10²⁵ kg1.34 x 10²⁷ kg2.56 x 10²⁴ kg1.37 x 10²⁶ kg

omit

Question 7 If the 41-kg mass is moved to a position which is 6.3 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?

its weight will be increased by a factor of 3969 / 100its weight will be increased by a factor of 63 / 10its weight will be decreased by a factor of 10 / 63its weight will be decreased by a factor of 100 / 3969

omit

Question 8 When released from rest an object in freefall and tracked by a motion detector, which of the following position-time graphs will be displayed?

omit

Question 9 When released from rest an object in freefall and tracked by a motion detector, which of the following velocity-time graphs will be displayed?