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, 2 kg and 8 kg, initially at rest, are both released and fall freely to the ground. Which mass would experience the greater acceleration while falling?

8 kgboth masses experience the same acceleration2 kg

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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 attraction8 kg2 kg

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

both masses weighed the same2 kg8 kg

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Question 4 If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 2.32 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?

1.98 x 10^-10 N4.96 x 10^-11 N7.44 x 10^-11 N1.24 x 10^-10 N

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Question 5 On the surface of Planet X a 40-kg mass weighs 1568.0 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?

0.026 N/kg39.2 N/kg29.4 N/kg160.0 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.

2.34 x 10²⁶ kg2.39 x 10²⁵ kg1.5 x 10²⁴ kg2.3 x 10²⁷ kg

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Question 7 If the 40-kg mass is moved to a position which is 5.8 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?

its weight will be increased by a factor of 58 / 10its weight will be decreased by a factor of 100 / 3364its weight will be increased by a factor of 3364 / 100its weight will be decreased by a factor of 10 / 58

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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?