G1. (a) Define gravitational field strength.

[2]

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(b) State an expression for the magnitude of the gravitational field strength g h at a point
height h above a planet in terms of the mass of the planet M, its radius R and the
gravitational constant G.
[1]
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(c) State why gravitational field strength at a point is numerically equal to the
acceleration of free fall at that point.

[2]

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Object

Mass/kg

Radius/m

Sun
Earth
Mars
Moon

1.98 x 10 30
5.98 x 10 24
6.37 x 10 23
7.34 x 10 22

6.95 x 10 8
6.38 x 10 6
3.43 x 10 6
1.74 x 10 6

Radius of
orbit/m

Period of
revolution/s

1.49 x 10 11
2.28 x 10 11
3.84 x 10 8

3.16 x 10 7
5.94 x 10 7
2.36 x 10 6

(d) Use the information in the table above to answer the following.
(i) Find the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Mars.

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(ii) Consider a planet which has 6 times the mass of the Earth and twice its radius.
Find the ratio of the gravitational field strength at the surface of the planet
to that of the Earth.
[3]
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G2. (a) A certain planet is a uniform sphere of mass M and radius R of 5.110 6 m.
(i) State an expression, in terms of M and R, for the gravitational field strength at the
surface of the planet. State the name of any other symbol you may use.
[2]
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(ii) A mountain on the surface of the planet has a height of 2000 m. Suggest why the
value of the gravitational field strength at the base of the mountain and at the top of the
mountain are almost equal.
[2]
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(b) A small sphere is projected horizontally near the surface of the planet in (b).
Photographs of the sphere are taken at time intervals of 0.20 s. The images of the sphere
are placed on a grid and the result is shown below.
point of
release

1.00 cm represents 1.00 m

The first photograph is taken at time t = 0. Each 1.00 cm on the grid represents a distance
of 1.00 m in both the horizontal and the vertical directions. Use the diagram to
(i) explain why air resistance on the planet is negligible.
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(ii) calculate a value for the acceleration of free fall at the surface of the planet. [2]
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(c) Use your answer to (b)(ii) and data from (a) to calculate the mass of the planet. [2]
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G3.
(a)

Use the definition of gravitational field strength to deduce that GM = g0 R 2

where M is the mass of the Earth, R its radius and g0 is the gravitational field
strength at the surface of the Earth. (You may assume that the Earth is a uniform
sphere with its mass concentrated at its centre.)
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(b)

The gravitational field strength at the surface of Jupiter is 25 N kg1 and the
radius of Jupiter is 7.1 107 m.
Calculate the mass of Jupiter.

[3]

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(c)

Consider the planet (shown below) with radius R.

The gravitational field strength at point A is shown.
Point A is a distance 3R above the surface of the planet.
Point B is a distance R above the surface of the planet.
Draw a vector of appropriate length and direction at B to indicate
the gravitational field strength.

[2]

A
B

(d)

Point C is on the surface of the planet.

If the gravitational field strength at A is 0.12 . 1 ,
find the acceleration due to gravity at C.

[2]

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(e) Mark with an X where the gravitational field strength due to the planet is zero? [1]

G1. (a) Gravitational field strength

is the force per unit mass that a point mass

would experience in a gravitational field.

= (+)2

(b)
(c)

= =

so

so acceleration is independent of the mass of the object.

(d) (i) =

(ii)

G2. (a)

(6.37 x 1023 )
(3.43 x 106 )2

()

()

( )

( )

(i) =

= 3.6 2

( )
(

( )

) .

so 3:2

where G is the universal gravitational constant.

(ii) + 2000

(This distance is very small compared to the radius of the earth, 5.110 6 m.
(b) (i)
Air resistance on the planet is negligible
because there is a constant horizontal velocity.
(The horizontal displacement changes by 2 m every 0.2 s)
(ii)
(c)

G3. (a)
(b)

(c)

= + a 2

so

==
=

7.4 = 0 + (1.4)2

7.6 =
=

(5.1 x 106 )2

so 25 =

so

(7.1 x 107 )2

14.8
1.4 2

= 7.6 2

so = 3.0 x 1024

= 2

6.67 x 1011

so = 1.9 x 1027

The field strength at B must be four times that at A, since it has half the distance from
the centre of the planet.
A
B
X

(d)
(e)

Acceleration due to gravity at C = 42 (0.12) = 1.9 2

The gravitational field strength is zero only at its centre (and infinity).