PhysicsLAB Practice Problems
Gravitational Fields and Forces


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

Question 1  Two masses, 2 kg and 6 kg, initially at rest, are both released and fall freely to the ground. Which mass would experience the greater acceleration while falling?
Question 2  When initially released, which mass experienced the greater gravitational force of attraction to the earth?
Question 3  When initially released, which mass weighed more in the earth's gravitational field?
Question 4  If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 2.04 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?
Question 5  On the surface of Planet X a 40-kg mass weighs 1176.0 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?
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.
Question 7  If the 40-kg mass is moved to a position which is 5.1 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?
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?
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?


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