Gravitational Fields and Forces

Practice Problems
Gravitational Fields and Forces

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

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Question 1 Two masses, 4 kg and 9 kg, initially at rest, are both released and fall freely to the ground. Which mass would experience the greater acceleration while falling?

4 kg9 kgboth masses experience the same acceleration

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

9 kg4 kgboth masses experience the same gravitational force of attraction

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

9 kg both masses weighed the same4 kg

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Question 4 If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 2.4 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?

5.79 x 10^-11 N1.51 x 10^-10 N2.61 x 10^-11 N4.17 x 10^-10 N

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Question 5 On the surface of Planet X a 40-kg mass weighs 882.0 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?

12.3 N/kg90.0 N/kg22.1 N/kg0.045 N/kg

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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.

1.29 x 10²⁷ kg2.66 x 10²⁴ kg1.32 x 10²⁶ kg1.35 x 10²⁵ kg

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Question 7 If the 40-kg mass is moved to a position which is 6 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?

its weight will be increased by a factor of 3600 / 100its weight will be decreased by a factor of 10 / 60its weight will be decreased by a factor of 100 / 3600its weight will be increased by a factor of 60 / 10

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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?

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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?