17 Gravitation Answers

17 Gravitation Answers
Page 308 Test yourself on prior knowledge

1 a) Sun: 270 N kg-1; Earth: 9.8 N kg-1; Mercury: 3.7 N kg-1; Ceres: 0.3 N kg-1.
The Sun has the largest field strength, due its great mass; Ceres the lowest field strength due
to its low mass. You know Earth’s field strength, so you can deduce that of Mercury – which is
a smaller planet than Earth.
2 Work done climbing Everest = m g h
= 120 kg x 9.8 N kg-1 x 8 800 m
= 10.3 MJ
Work done climbing Olympus Mons = m g h
= 120 kg x 3.7 N kg-1 x 22 000 m
= 9.8 MJ
3 a) v2 = 2 g h
v = (2 g h)½
= (2 × 9.8 N kg-1 × 5 m) ½
= 9.9 m s-1
v2
b) g = 2h
(100 m2s−2)
= 2 ×31 m
= 1.6 N kg-1
c) v = (2 g h)½
So, if h is doubled, v increases by √2 and v2h = 10 × √2 = 14 m s-1
Page 311 Test yourself

𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
1 a) F = 𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(4 × 1025 kg) × 100 kg
= (8.4 × 106 m)2
= 3 800 N
3800 N
b) g = 100 kg
38 N kg-1
𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
2 a) F = 𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(80 kg) ×(80 kg)
= (10 m)2
= 4 × 10-9 N
We have assumed (incorrectly) that the two people are spheres.
© Nick England, Jeremy Pollard, Nicky Thomas & Carol Davenport 2019
b) 4 × 10-9 N is a tiny force.

c) Electrostatic forces are far larger than gravitational forces.
3 The pull on Jupiter is 300 x larger due to its larger mass, but 52 times smaller due to the larger
distance. So the pull on Jupiter is 300/25 = 12 times larger.
1
4 a) I ∝ r2
So the intensity will be 32 or 9 times smaller.
So I = 0.022 W m-2
Light power
b) I =
4𝜋r2
⟹ Light Power = 4π × (1 m)2 × 0.2 W m-2
= 2.5 W
Since it is 20% efficient, the total power transformed by the bulb is 2.5 W × 5 = 12.5 W.
𝐺𝑚1𝑚2
5 F = 𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(7 × 1011 × 2 × 1030 kg) ×(7 ×1011 ×2 × 1030 kg)
= (2.4 × 1022 m)2
= 2 × 1029 N
(The two galaxies are expected to collide to form one giant galaxy in about 4 billion years time.)

𝐺𝑀
6 a) g = 𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(4.6 × 1023 kg)

=
(3.2 × 106 m)2
= 3.0 N kg-1
b) R = 6 400 km + 3 200 km
= 9 600 km
1
g ∝ r2
since r2 is 9 times larger, g is 9 times less.

3
So g = 9 N kg-1
= 0.33 N kg-1
𝑟1 8.4 × 105 km
7 a) 𝑟2
= 14 km
= 6 × 104
b) g = 400 N kg-1 × (6 × 104)2
= 1.4 × 1012 N kg-1

𝐺𝑀
8 g at sea level = 𝑟12
(6.7 × 10−11Nm2kg−2 ) ×(6.0 × 1024 kg)

= (6.4 ×106 m)2
9.81 N kg-1
At the top of Mount Everest:

(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2kg −2) ×(6.0 × 1024 kg)
g = (6.4088 ×106 m)2
= 9.79 N kg-1
So, to two significant figures, we can take g to be about 9.8 N kg -1 in both places.
9 a) The gradient of the velocity time graph is the acceleration, which is equal to the gravitational
field strength.
b) The gradient of the displacement graph is the velocity of the spacecraft at any point.
10 G has units N m2 kg-2
and 1 N = 1 kg m s-2
so G has units: kg m s-2 m2 kg-2
= m3 kg-1 s-2

11 a) Gravitational potential difference is the gravitational potential energy difference per kg
between two points.
b) J kg-1
c) An equipotential is a line or surface where the gravitational potential is the same along that
line or surface.
12 a) ∆E = m ∆V
= 5 kg × 100 J kg-1
= 500 J
b) 0
c) ∆E = m ∆V
= 5 kg × 300 J kg-1
= 1500 J
∆𝑣 400 J kg−1
13 =
∆ℎ 80 m
= 5 N kg-1
This is the same value as the gravitational field, g, but in the opposite direction. When dealing
with units: note that J m-1 = N
Page 317 Activity

Equipotentials and variation of potential with distance
1
Potential/ r/ 1/r
107J kg–1 107m /10–7m–1
-8 1.00 1.00
-7 1.14 0.88
-6 1.33 0.75
-5 1.60 0.63
-4 2.00 0.50
-3 2.70 0.37
-2 4.00 0.25
∆𝑣
2 a) graph gradient: g = – ∆𝑟
= 2 N kg-1
∆𝑣
b) graph gradient: g = – ∆𝑟
= 0.5 N kg-1
Note that as the distance is doubled the field reduces to a ¼ of its former value.
The line used to calculate the second value is much harder to draw accurately as there is less
data around that point.
3 The graph should look similar to this:
𝐺𝑀
V=– 𝑅
So gradient = – GM
6 × 107 Jkg−1
gradient = 0.75 × 10−1m−1
= 8.0 × 1014 J m kg-1
Thus GM = 8.0 × 1014 J m kg-1

8 × 1014 Jmkg−1
M =
6.7 × 10−11 Nm2kg −2
= 1.2 × 1025 kg

14 This definition ensures that all planets and stars have the same zero point for their potentials.
𝐺𝑀
15 V = – 𝑅
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(1.9 × 1027 kg)
=– 7.0 × 107 m
= – 1.8 x 109 J kg-1
Make sure you have the correct unit and sign.
16 a) i) ∆W = 0
ii) ∆W = m ∆V
= 1 200 kg × (6 x 107 – 4 x 107) J kg-1
= 2.4 x 1010 J
iii) ∆W = 0
iv) ∆W = m ∆V
= 1 200 kg × (4 x 107 – 2 x 107) J kg-1
= 2.4 x 1010 J
b) The spacecraft stays in its circular orbit at a constant speed, because no work is done by the
planet’s field to change its direction. It is on an equipotential so its energy remains
unchanged.
1
c) 2
𝑚𝑣22 − 𝑚𝑣52 = 𝑚∆𝑉
𝑣22 − 𝑣52 = 2∆𝑉
𝑣22 = 𝑣52 + 2∆𝑉
= (5.2 × 103 m s-1)2 + 2 × 4 × 107 J kg-1
= 2.7 × 107 m2s-2 + 8 × 107 m2s-2
v2 = 10 300 m s-1
17 Using the diagram to scale, the distance to the first equipotential above the planet is about 1400
km.
∆V
So g = – ∆r
(8−7) ×107 J kg−1

=–
1.4 ×106 m
= – 7.1 N kg-1
The minus sign means the field is (of course) pointing towards the surface.
OR
𝐺𝑀 𝐺𝑀
v= ;g=
𝑟 𝑟2
V
so g = – r at the surface
8 × 107 J kg−1
=– 107 m
= – 8.0 N kg-1
As you can see both methods give about the same answer, but the answers are not exactly the
same as the first method is only approximate, as the field reduces in size above the surface.
𝐺𝑀
18 a) v2 = 𝑟
𝐺𝑀
r = 𝑣2
6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2 ×(1031 kg)

=
(3 × 108 m s−1)2
= 7400 m or 7.4 km
𝐺𝑀
b) i) g =
𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11N m2 kg−2 ) ×1031 kg

= (7400 m)2
= 1.2 × 1013 N kg-1

𝐺𝑀
ii) V =− 𝑟
(6.7 × 10−11 N m2kg−2 ) ×1031 kg

=− 7400 m
= – 9 × 1016 J kg-1
Page 322 Activity

The moons of Saturn
1 a)
Moon Orbital radius/ Orbital period/ R3 / T2 /

103 km days 1024 m3 109 s2
Atlas 137 0.6 2.6 2.7
Mimas 185 0.9 6.3 6.0
Methone 194 7.3
Enceladus 238 1.4 13.5 14.6
Tethys 295 1.9 25.7 26.9
Dione 377 2.7 53.6 54.4
From the graph, T2 for Methone is 7.7 × 109 s2
Methone’s orbital period, T = 87700s = 24.4 hours = 1 day
b) The gradient of the graph is:
(5.44 × 1010 – 2.7 × 109) / (5.36 × 1025 – 2.6*1024) = 1.01 × 10-15 s2m-3
4𝜋 2
But the gradient = 𝐺𝑀
4𝜋 2
So 1.01 × 10-15 s2m-3 = (6.67
× 10−11 Nm2 kg−2 )×M
4𝜋 2
M = (6.67 × 10−11Nm2 kg−2 ) ×(1.01 × 10−15 s2 m−3)
≈ 5.9 × 1026 kg
2 Dione and the Moon

4𝜋 2
Since T2 = ( 𝐺𝑀 ) 𝑟 3
1
⇒ if r is constant, T2 ∝ 𝑀
𝑀𝑆 (𝑇 )2
So 𝑀𝐸
= (𝑇𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛 )2
𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒
27 2
= (2.7)
= 100
Moon Orbital radius/ Orbital period/ log10 R log10T

103 km days
Atlas 137 0.6 8.14 4.71
Mimas 185 0.9 8.27 4.89
Methone 194 1.0 8.29 4.94
Enceladus 238 1.4 8.38 5.08
Tethys 295 1.9 8.47 5.22
Dione 377 2.7 8.58 5.37
Excel gives the gradient of this graph as 1.5 (2sf) and thus it confirms that T2 ∝ R3

19 a) i) Surveillance, weather maps, etc.
ii) Communications.
These satellites are often in geosynchronous orbits.
𝐺𝑀
b) i) g =
𝑟2
Since G and M are constant, 𝑔1 𝑟12 = 𝑔2 𝑟22

𝑔 64002
9.8
= (6400+300) 2
g = 8.9 N kg-1
ii) g = ꙍ2r
𝑔
So ꙍ2 = 𝑟
2𝜋 2 𝑔
( ) =
𝑇 𝑟
4𝜋 2𝑟
T2 =
𝑔
4𝜋 2 ×6.7 ×106 m
= 8.94 ms−2
T = 5436 s ≈ 1.5 h
20 a) Planets have nearly circular orbits. Comet orbits are often highly elongated ellipses.
b) The comet has low potential energy and high kinetic energy near the Sun.
As the comet moves away from the Sun, its potential energy increases and kinetic energy
decreases.
2𝜋
21 a) ꙍ = 𝑇
2𝜋
= 120 × 60 s
= 8.7 × 10-4 s-1

𝐺𝑀
b) 𝑟2
= ꙍ2r
𝐺𝑀
so r3 = 𝜔2
4 ×1014 Nkg−1 m2
=
(8.7 × 10−4s−1)2
r = 8.0 × 106 m
2𝜋
22 a) i) ꙍ = 𝑇
2𝜋
= 365 ×24 ×3600 s
= 2 × 10-7 s-1
ii) v = ω r
= 2 × 10-7 s-1 × 1.5 × 1011 m
= 3.0 × 104 m s-1 or 30 km s-1
b) i) F = m ω2 r
= 6.0 × 1024 kg × (2 x 10-7 s-1)2 × 1.5 × 1011 m

= 3.6 × 1022 N
𝐺𝑀𝑚
ii) F = 𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11Nm2 kg−2 )×(2 × 1030 kg) ×(6 ×1024 kg)

= (1.5 × 1011 m)2
= 3.6 × 1022 N
c) Since the gravitational field strength at a point is the force acting on unit mass, the simplest way
to calculate this is to divide the previous answer by the mass of the Earth:
3.6 × 1022 N
g=
6 ×1024 kg
= 0.006 Nkg−1
More formally:
𝐺𝑀
g=
𝑟2
(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2kg −2)×(2 × 1030 kg)

= (1.5 × 1011 m)2
=0.0060 Nkg−1
Pages 324–327 Practice questions

1 C
2 C
3 D
4 A
5 D
6 B
7 D
8 C
9 B
10 B
g2
11 a)
G
Units:
(N kg−1 )2 N2 kg−2
=
N m2 kg−2 N m2 kg−2
= N m−2 [1]
= kg m s−2 m−2
= kg m−1 s−2 [1]

GM
b) g = r2
4
G × π ρ r3
3
=
r2
4
g = 3 πGρr (this equation should be known) [1]
g
So r = 4
πGρ
3
rEarth g ρM gE ρM
rMoon
= ρE × gM
= gM
× ρE
[1]
E
= 6 × 0.6
= 3.6 [1]
12 a) Work done = mΔV [1]
Since VA = -16 MJkg-1 then VB = -8 MJkg-1 [1]
So, work done = 120 kg × (16 – 8) MJ kg−1
= 960 MJ [1]
1
b) g ∝ r2
[1]
1
So g = 4 × 4 N kg −1
= 1 N kg−1 [1]
4
13 g = πGρr (see question 11)
3
g ∝ ⍴r [1]
So g at Betelguese surface = 270 N kg−1 × 0.01 × 1 000 [1]
= 2700 N kg−1 [1]
14 a) Work done = mΔV [1]
= 600 kg × 8 × 107 J kg−1 [1]
= 4.8 × 1010 J [1]
GM
b) g = r2
[1]
At P: g1 = g2 [1]
GM GMB
So (3r)A2 = r2
Planet A is 9 times more massive than planet B [1]

2π
15 a) ꙍ = [1]
T
2π
= 42 × 3600 s−1 [1]
= 4.2 × 10−5 s−1 [1]

GM
b) = ω2 r [1]
r2
ω2 r3
M = G
[1]
(4.1 × 10−5 s−1)2 × (4.2 × 108 m )3

= (6.7 × 10−11 N m2 kg−2 )
= 1.9 × 1027 kg [1]
c) TGanymede = (168 × 3600)s ⇒ ꙍGanymede = 1.0 × 10-5 s-1 [1]

GM
r3 = [1]
ω2
(6.7 × 10−11 N m2 kg−2 ) × (1.9 × 1027 kg)

= [1]
(1.0 ×10−5 s−1 )2
r = 1.06 × 109 m [1]
OR
Since r = kT 2/3 [1]

2
rG  TG 
3
=   [1]
rI  TI 
2
168 3
r = 4.2 × 108 m × ( 42 ) [1]
= 1.06 × 109 m [1]

2×2
16 a) Force = 42
𝐹 [1]
1
= 4 F [1]
Gm1m2
b) F = r2
[1]
Fr2
m2 =
Gm1
(3.7 × 10−9 N) × (0.2 m)2

m2 = (6.7 × 10−11 N m2 kg −2) × 3.0 kg [1]
= 0.74 kg [1]
∆V
c) g = ∆x [1]
800 J kg−1
= 20 m
[1]
= 40 N kg−1 [1]
17 a) We are used to feeling a reaction force equal to our weight, which gives us the sensation of
weight. So, when there is no reaction force, we feel weightless. In this case:
mg = mꙍ2r [1]
2π 2
So g = ( ) r
T
r
T2 = (2π)2 g
r
T = 2π√
g
1
6.4 × 106 m 2
= 2π ( 9.8 m s−2
) [1]
= 5080 s
≈ 1.4 h [1]
GM v2
b) i) = [1]
r2 r
GM
v2 = r
1
GM 2
v= ( ) [1]
r
1
2πr GM 2
ii) = ( ) [1]
T r
1
r 2
T = 2πr × (GM)
1
r3 2
= 2π (GM) [1]
18 a) If M is the mass of the Moon:

G × 81 M GM
𝑟12
= 𝑟22
[1]
r1
So = √81 = 9 [1]
r2
b) i) ΔE = mΔV [1]
= 2 × 104 kg × (62.8 – 1.3) MJ kg−1 [1]
= 1.2 × 1012 J [1]
ii) The Moon’s gravity now pulls the craft to a place of lower potential. [1]
c)
• The Earth’s gravitational field is much larger than the Moon’s,

and the gravitational potential at or near the surface is much lower.
So more work is done to take the craft to N from the Earth than it is from the Moon.
• On the return journey there is only a small potential change required to take the craft
from the Moon’s surface to N.
• On the return once the craft is at N, Earth’s gravity pulls it back.
Also on the return journey the spacecraft carries much less fuel, so its mass is less, so
less work is done to lift it.
Pages 327–328 Stretch and challenge

GM
19 a) i) V = − R
1 1 2
ii) mc 2 = c (as m = 1 kg)
2 2
GM 1
iii) r
= 2 c2
2GM
r = c2
(2 × 6.7 × 10−11 N m2 kg −2) × (2 × 1030 × 5 × 109 kg)

= (3 × 108 m s−1 )2
= 1.5 × 1013 m
This is very big – about 0.002 light years.
GM
b) i) r2
= ω2 r
4π2 GM
ω2 = ( 2
) = 3
T r
4 π2
⇒ T2 = ( G M ) r 3
4π2 × (3 × 105 × 9.5 × 1015 m)3
= (6.7 × 10−11 N m2 kg−2 )× (6 × 1012 × 2 × 1030 kg)
T = 3.4 × 1016 s ≈ 1000 million years
ii) Slow-moving stars feed the black hole.

GM
20 a) V = r
or Vr = GM
So VJ.rJ = VS.rS
rS −172
=
rJ −93
= 1.85
b) The Sun’s gravitational pull accelerates it.

Or, the potential is lower, so it transfers GPE to KE.
1 1
c) i) 2
mvB2 − 2 mvA2 = m∆V
ii) vB2 − vA2 = 2∆V
vB2 = (3 × 104 m s−1 )2 + (2 × 800 × 106 )(m s−1 )2
vB = 5 × 104 m s−1
iii) vC = vB = 5 × 104 m s−1
vD = vA = 3 × 104 m s−1

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17 Gravitation Answers

Page 308 Test yourself on prior knowledge

Page 311 Test yourself

b) 4 × 10-9 N is a tiny force.

So the intensity will be 32 or 9 times smaller.

⟹ Light Power = 4π × (1 m)2 × 0.2 W m-2

Page 313 Test yourself

(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2) ×(4.6 × 1023 kg)

since r2 is 9 times larger, g is 9 times less.

b) g = 400 N kg-1 × (6 × 104)2

= 1.4 × 1012 N kg-1

(6.7 × 10−11Nm2kg−2 ) ×(6.0 × 1024 kg)

At the top of Mount Everest:

10 G has units N m2 kg-2

so G has units: kg m s-2 m2 kg-2

Page 315 Test yourself

Page 317 Activity

3 The graph should look similar to this:

= 8.0 × 1014 J m kg-1

Thus GM = 8.0 × 1014 J m kg-1

Page 318 Test yourself

Make sure you have the correct unit and sign.

= 1 200 kg × (6 x 107 – 4 x 107) J kg-1

= 1 200 kg × (4 x 107 – 2 x 107) J kg-1

𝑣22 − 𝑣52 = 2∆𝑉

𝑣22 = 𝑣52 + 2∆𝑉

= (5.2 × 103 m s-1)2 + 2 × 4 × 107 J kg-1

= 2.7 × 107 m2s-2 + 8 × 107 m2s-2

(8−7) ×107 J kg−1

6.7 × 10−11 Nm2 kg−2 ×(1031 kg)

(6.7 × 10−11N m2 kg−2 ) ×1031 kg

= 1.2 × 1013 N kg-1

(6.7 × 10−11 N m2kg−2 ) ×1031 kg

Page 322 Activity

Moon Orbital radius/ Orbital period/ R3 / T2 /

From the graph, T2 for Methone is 7.7 × 109 s2

Methone’s orbital period, T = 87700s = 24.4 hours = 1 day

b) The gradient of the graph is:

2 Dione and the Moon

Moon Orbital radius/ Orbital period/ log10 R log10T

Page 323 Test yourself

Since G and M are constant, 𝑔1 𝑟12 = 𝑔2 𝑟22

= 8.7 × 10-4 s-1

= 6.0 × 1024 kg × (2 x 10-7 s-1)2 × 1.5 × 1011 m

(6.7 × 10−11Nm2 kg−2 )×(2 × 1030 kg) ×(6 ×1024 kg)

(6.7 × 10−11 Nm2kg −2)×(2 × 1030 kg)

Pages 324–327 Practice questions

= kg m−1 s−2 [1]

12 a) Work done = mΔV [1]

Since VA = -16 MJkg-1 then VB = -8 MJkg-1 [1]

So, work done = 120 kg × (16 – 8) MJ kg−1

So g at Betelguese surface = 270 N kg−1 × 0.01 × 1 000 [1]

= 2700 N kg−1 [1]

14 a) Work done = mΔV [1]

= 600 kg × 8 × 107 J kg−1 [1]

= 4.8 × 1010 J [1]

Planet A is 9 times more massive than planet B [1]

= 4.2 × 10−5 s−1 [1]

(4.1 × 10−5 s−1)2 × (4.2 × 108 m )3