CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 17
Science in context guidance  human with mass 70 kg weighs about
A
700 N on Earth. Their weight is greater
• The electrostatic force may be many times than their mutual attraction by a factor of
stronger, but the gravitational force dominates approximately 109.
over large distances because the gravitational
3At sea level:
force is always attractive, whereas there are
6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 1024 × 100
two types of charge (positive and negative), W= = 9.77 N
so the electromagnetic interaction can either (6.4 × 106 )2
be attractive or repulsive. In general, the At top of Mount Everest:
negative and positive charges tend to cancel 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 1024 × 100
out, making any large-scale object nearly W= = 9.74 N
(6.409 × 106 )2
electrically neutral.
This is only just detectable and other
• The balance between gravitational attraction factors would probably mask it.
and electrostatic repulsion is demonstrated
4 a i
beautifully in star formation. Gravity pulls
increasing amounts of dust and gas together gravitational field strength at Moon’s surface
and the heat and pressure rises. When this GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 7.4 × 1022
protostar becomes sufficiently massive, the = =
r2 (1.74 × 106 )2
heat and pressure are strong enough to fuse
= 1.6 N kg −1
hydrogen nuclei together, overcoming the
(incredibly strong) force of repulsion between ii
positively charged nuclei. gravitational field strength at Sun’s surface
GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 2.0 × 1030
= =
Self-assessment questions r2 (7.0 × 108 )2
m1 m2 10 −1 × 10 −1
1 a F = −G = − 6.67 × 10 −11
× = 270 N kg −1
r2 (1× 10 −2 )2
b  ravitational field strength is very weak
G
= − 6.67 × 10 N
−9
on the Moon, so gas molecules will
mm 5 × 1010 × 5 × 1010 have enough energy to escape from the
b F = −G 1 2 2 = −6.67 × 10 −11 ×
r 6( 4 × 109 )2 Moon, whereas the Sun has a very high
= −1.04 × 10 −8 N field strength and, therefore, pulls gas
mm 1.4 × 10 4 × 6.0 × 1024 molecules very close together.
F = −G 1 2 2 = −6.67 × 10 −11 ×
c 
r (6.8 × 106 )2 5 a Earth’s field strength near the Moon
= 1.2 × 10 5 GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 1024
= =
2 Estimate that each person has mass 70 kg and r2 (3.8 × 108 )2
that they are seated 0.5 m apart. = 2.8 × 10 −3 N kg −1
m1 m2 70 × 70 b force = mg = 7.4 × 1022 × (2.8 × 10−3) = 2.1
F = −G = −6.67 × 10 −11 ×
r2 0.52 × 1020 N
= 1.3 × 10 N
−6 F 2.1× 1020
acceleration = = = 2.8 × 10 −3 m s −2
m 7.4 × 1022
≈ 10−6 N

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

320 b
6 gJupiter = 9.81× = 25 N kg −1 1 1 
11.22 ∆ϕ = GM  − 
 r1 r2 
7 gravitational field of the Sun at the Earth
6.67 × 10 −11 × 2.0 × 1030  1 1 
gs = = 5.9 × 10 −3 N kg −1 = 6.67 × 10 −11 × 7.4 × 1022  − 
 (1.74 × 10 ) ( 2.05 × 10 ) 
6 6
(1.5 × 1011 )2
gravitational field of the Moon at the Earth = 4.3 × 105 J kg −1
6.67 × 10 −11 × 7.4 × 1022 11 orbital radius = radius of Earth + altitude of
= = 3.4 × 10 −5 N kg −1
(3.8 × 108 )2 satellite above surface = 6.4 × 106 + 2.0 × 105 =
6.6 × 106 m
s o, the Sun has a greater pull on each kilogram
of the seawater GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 1024
v= = = 7.8 ms −1
8 a r 6.6 × 106
6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.4 × 1023 × 4.0 12 Diagram showing the satellite spiralling in
force of Mars on baby = towards Earth
(1.0 × 1011 )2
= 1.8 × 10 −8 N  he satellite needs to fire small thruster
T
b rockets to maintain its speed and orbit.
6.67 × 10 −11 × 50 × 4.0 13
force of Mother on baby =
0.402 GMT 2 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.4 × 1023 × ( 24.6 × 3600 )2
= 8.3 × 10 −8 N r3 = =
4 π2 4 π2
GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.0 × 1024 = 8.48 × 10 21

9 a ϕEarth = − =−
r 6.4 × 106 r = 2.04 × 107 m = 20 400 km
= −6.3 × 10 J kg
7 −1
14 d
 istance travelled by signal sent to and
GM 6.67 × 10 × 7.4 × 10
−11 22 returned by satellite = 2 × (42 300 000 −
b ϕMoon = − =− 6 400 000) = 7.18 × 107 m
r 1.74 × 106
= −2.8 × 10 J kg
6 −1  he extra time taken by signal travelling via
T
satellite t:
c ϕ ϕ
distance 2 × ( 4.23 × 107 − 6.4 × 106 )
r r t= =
speed 3 × 108
WMoon
7.18 × 107
WEarth = = 0.24 s
3 × 108
 he signals travel 30% slower in the cables but
T
the distance is very much less.
Potential well for Earth Potential well for Moon

d  Earth is the energy needed for each

W Exam-style questions
kilogram, initially on the Earth’s surface,
to escape from the Earth’s field, which can 1 B
 (A: failing to square r; C & D: inverting
be seen to be much greater than WMoon, the multipliers)[1]
the energy needed for each kilogram, 2 B
 (A: dividing by r2; C & D: gravitational
initially on the Moon’s surface, to escape potential is negative, not positive)[1]
from its field. So, the rocket does not need mm
3 F = G 1 2 2 [1]
to carry so much fuel. r
20 × 10 −3 × 20 × 10 −3
10 a The radius of the command module orbit = 6.67 × 10 −11 × [1]
varies; the closer to the Moon the deeper (5.0 × 10 −3 )2
the module is in the potential and the   = 1.1 × 10−9 N[1]
smaller the potential.

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

4 a Arrow vertically downwards labelled b  he proximity of the very large planet,

T
‘weight’ or ‘Earth’s gravitational pull’[1] Jupiter, would disrupt the orbit, through
Arrow to right labelled ‘pull of mountain’ its gravitational pull.[1]
[1] 9 a circumference of orbit = 2πr = 2π × 1.5 ×
Arrow along the string labelled ‘tension’[1] 1011 = 9.42 × 1011 m[1]
mm circumference 9.42 ×1011
b F = G 12 2 [1] v= = [1]
r time 365 × 24 × 3600
3.8 × 1012 × 0.020 v = 3.0 × 104 m s−1[1]
= 6.67 × 10 −11 ×
12002 (3.0 × 10 4 )2
b centripetal acceleration = [1]
= 3.5 × 10−6 N[1] 1.5 × 1011
= 6.0 × 10 m s [1]
−3 −2

c Earth’s force F = mg = 0.020 × 9.8 =

0.196 N[1] c 6.0 × 10−3 N kg−1; the gravitational field of
the Sun provides the centripetal force[1]
which is 5.6 × 104 times as large[1]
M 6.4 × 1023
5 a Arrows towards the Earth[1] 10 a i g = G 2 = 6.67 × 10 −11 ×
r (3.395 × 106 )2
 [1]
b  or a rise of 10 000 m, the Earth’s field
F
may be considered to be uniform,[1] = 3.7 m s−2[1]
but when something moves a significant GM 6.67 × 10 −11 × 6.4 × 1023
ii ϕ = − =−
distance away from the Earth we must r 3.395 × 106
 [1]
recognise that there is a significant
reduction in the field.[1] = −1.26 × 107 J kg−1[1]
4
6 a  mass of Mercury = πr 3 × ρ [1] b 1.26 × 107 J kg−1[1]
3
4 1
 = π × ( 2.44 × 106 )3 × 5.4 × 103 = 3.28 × 1023 c  mv 2 = mϕ , so v = 2ϕ = 2 × 1.26 × 107
3
[1] 2 [1]
M = 5020 m s−1[1]
F = G 2 [1]
r
3.28 × 1023 d  he work done in lifting the mass of a
T
= 6.67 × 10 −11 × Mars probe from the Earth is very large
( 2.44 × 106 )2
[1] [1]
= 3.67 N kg−1[1] so requires a very powerful rocket to
do it all in one go.[1]
b mass of person = 900/9.8 = 91.8 kg[1]
11 a Work done to bring unit mass[1]
weight on Mercury = 91.8 × 3.67=
337 N ≈ 340 N[1] from infinity to that point[1]
7  istance from centre of Mars =
d b  ϕ
3.4 ×106 + 20 × 106 = 23.4 × 106 km r
Mm
potential energy = −G [1] ii
r
i
6.4 × 1023 × 250
= −6.67 × 10 −11 × [1]
23.4 × 106
= −4.6 × 10 J[1]
8
2R
GMT 2
8 a  r 3 =
4 π2
R
6.67 × 10 −11 × 1.48 × 1023 × (7.15 × 24 × 3600 )2
= =
4 π2
95.5 × 1021 m3[1]
r = 4.6 × 107 m[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
3 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

i Dashed line in diagram: same radius mv 2 2πr

c  =
F ,v = [1]
but depth two times original[1] r T
outside original ‘well’[1] rm
hence,T = 2 π
ii Bold line on diagram: goes along the F
present lines[1] 1.7530 × 107 × 1.5 × 1021
= 2π [1]
but stops at twice the radius[1] 3.3 × 1018
= 5.6 × 105 s (= 6.5 days)[1]
c Curve ii[1]
Smaller hill to get up[1] d  therwise they would lose stability in
O
GM their orbits (or words to that effect)[1]
d Using ϕ = − once[1]
r 13 a 0.80 N kg−1 (accept range ±0.1)[1]
GM
Using ϕ = − a second time[1] b 0 .80 m s−2 (must be numerically equal
r to part a)[1]
1 1  v2
(Using ∆ϕ = GM  −  scores both c a = , therefore, v [1]
marks)  r1 r2  r
= ar = 0.80 × 19.2 × 106
∆ϕ = 6.67 × 10 −11 × 4.87
= 3.9 × 103 m s−1[1]
 1 1 
× 10 
24
− 7 
[1]
1.21× 10 1.30 × 10  
7
d i Path spiralling into the centre[1]
= 1.86 × 10 J[1]
6
ii Work done against friction in the
12 a Gravitational force per unit mass[1] atmosphere causes heating[1]
at the point[1] causing satellite to ‘burn up’.[1]
mm
b F = G 1 2 2 [1]
r
1.27 × 1022 × 1.50 × 1021
= 6.67 × 10 −11 × [1]
(1.96 × 107 )2
= 3.3 × 1018 N[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
4 © Cambridge University Press 2020