4 Marking scheme: Worksheet

1 Gravitational field strength at a point, g, is the force experienced per unit mass at that point.
2 F=

[1]

GMm
r2

Therefore: G =

[1]

N m2
Fr 2
[N m2 kg2]

2
Mm
kg

[1]

F
m
F = mg = 80 1.6
F = 128 N 130 N (F is the weight of the astronaut.)

3 g=

4 a

F=
F=

[1]
[1]

GMm
r2
6.67 10 11 1.7 10 27 1.7 10 27

[1]

[1]

(5.0 10 )

14 2

F 7.7 1038 N
6.67 10 11 5.0 10 28 5.0 10 28
b F=
2
8.0 1012

5 a
b

[1]
[1]

F = 2.61 1021 N 2.6 1021 N

6.67 10 11 1500 2
F=
2 .0 2
F = 3.75 105 N 3.8 105 N
g=

[1]
[1]
[1]

GM
r2

[1]

1
).
r2
Doubling the distance decreases the field strength by a factor of four.
2
GM (5 R )
Ratio =
2
GM (59 R )
The field strength obeys an inverse square law with distance (g

59 2
59
=
2
5
5
ratio 140

[1]
[1]
[1]

[1]

ratio =

GM
r2
6.67 10 11 1.0 10 26

[1]

6 g=

g=

(2.2 10 )

7 2

[1]
(magnitude only)

[1]

g = 13.8 N kg1 14 N kg1

[1]

GM
r2
GM
6.67 10 11 5.0 10 23
r2 =
=
= 8.34 1012 m2
g
4 .0

[1]

7 g=

r=

[1]

8.34 1012 2.9 106 m

COAS Physics 2 Teacher Resources

[1]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2009

4 Marking scheme: Worksheet

8 a

F=
F=

GMm
r2

[1]

6.67 10 11 1800 6.0 10 24

7.8 1010
r =
= 3.9 1010 m
2

2
3.9 1010

[1]

F = 4.74 104 N 4.7 104 N

GMm
b F= 2
r
6.67 10 11 1800 6.4 10 23
F=
2
3.9 1010

9 a

[1]

[1]

F = 5.05 105 N 5.1 105 N

F
a=
(F is the net force.)
m
4.74 10 4 5.5 10 5
a=
1800
7
a 2.4 10 m s2 (towards the centre of the Earth)
GMm
r2
6.67 10 11 5000 6.0 10 24

[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]

F=
F=

(6800 10 )

3 2

[1]
(r = 6400 + 400 = 6800 km)

[1]

F = 4.33 104 N 4.3 104 N

4.33 10 4
F
b a=
=
m
5000
a = 8.66 8.7 m s2
v2
c a=
r
v2 = ar = 8.66 6800 103
v = 7.67 103 m s1 7.7 km s1

[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]

10 a period2 radius3
b i The period of a geostationary satellite is 1 day.
T2
= constant
r3
27.3 2
12
=
(3.84 10 5 ) 3 r 3
r =3

b ii

[1]
[1]

[1]

(3.84 10 5 ) 3
= 4.24 104 km 4.2 104 km
2
27.3

[1]

4 2 3
r
T 2 =

GM

2 3
4 2 (3.84 10 8 ) 3
4 r
=
=
M
GT 2
6.67 10 11 (27.3 24 3600) 2
mass = 6.025 1024 kg 6.0 1024 kg

COAS Physics 2 Teacher Resources

Original material Cambridge University Press 2009

[1]
[1]
[1]

4 Marking scheme: Worksheet

Gravitational force on planet =

11 a

Centripetal force =

GMm
r2

[1]

mv 2
r

[1]

mv 2
GMm
=
r
r2
GM
r

Equating these two forces, we have:

[1]

GM
r

[1]

Therefore: v2 =

or v =

GM
6.67 10 11 2.0 10 30
=
r
1.5 1011
v = 2.98 104 m s1 30 km s1

b v=

[1]
[1]

12 The field strengths are the same at point P.

GM M

GM E

(R x )2

[1]

Rx=x

ME
MM

[1]

Rx=x

81

so R x = 9x
R
10x = R so x =
10

COAS Physics 2 Teacher Resources

[1]
[1]

Original material Cambridge University Press 2009