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, 3 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?
6 kg
3 kg
both 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?
3 kg
both masses experience the same gravitational force of attraction
6 kg
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Question 3
When initially released, which mass weighed more in the earth's gravitational field?
both masses weighed the same
6 kg
3 kg
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Question 4
If when both masses impact the earth their centers land 1.887 meters apart, what is the gravitational force exerted on the small mass by the larger mass?
3.37 x 10
-10
N
3.75 x 10
-11
N
5.62 x 10
-11
N
1.69 x 10
-10
N
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Question 5
On the surface of Planet X a 37-kg mass weighs 725.2 N. What is the local value of Planet X's gravitational field strength?
74.0 N/kg
19.6 N/kg
0.051 N/kg
9.8 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 10
24
kg.
1.15 x 10
27
kg
1.2 x 10
25
kg
2.99 x 10
24
kg
1.17 x 10
26
kg
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Question 7
If the 37-kg mass is moved to a position which is 5.1 radii above the surface of Planet X, how will its weight be affected?
its weight will be decreased by a factor of 100 / 2601
its weight will be increased by a factor of 51 / 10
its weight will be decreased by a factor of 10 / 51
its weight will be increased by a factor of 2601 / 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?
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