Gravitational Fields and Forces

Practice Problems
Gravitational Fields and Forces

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

Page Directions The numerical values in this worksheet are randomly generated allowing students the opportunity to conveniently practice, and drill, common situations.

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Question 1 Two masses, 4 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?

4 kg8 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?

8 kgboth masses experience the same gravitational force of attraction4 kg

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

4 kg8 kg both masses weighed the same

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Question 4 If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 2.688 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?

3.69 x 10^-11 N2.95 x 10^-10 N1.11 x 10^-10 N1.85 x 10^-11 N

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Question 5 On the surface of Planet X a 42-kg mass weighs 823.2 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?

19.6 N/kg9.8 N/kg84.0 N/kg0.051 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.

1.2 x 10²⁵ kg2.99 x 10²⁴ kg1.17 x 10²⁶ kg1.15 x 10²⁷ kg

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Question 7 If the 42-kg mass is moved to a position which is 6.4 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?

its weight will be decreased by a factor of 10 / 64its weight will be decreased by a factor of 100 / 4096its weight will be increased by a factor of 64 / 10its weight will be increased by a factor of 4096 / 100

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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?