EXERCISE 3 (GRAVITATIONAL FIELD)

2013-2014

A2 :

1. There exist two masses A and B which are 6x10 6 kg and 3,2 x105 kg respectively. Given that the
distance between them is 2x103 m, determine the gravitational force between these two bodies.
2. The mean density of the Earth is 5/3 times the mean density of the Moon. The acceleration due
gravity is six times on the Earth than that Monn. Determine the ratio of the Earth’s radius and
Moon’s radius (ans : 18 : 5)
3. A geostationary satellite of 30 kg is in orbit at an altitude 3,8x10 7 m from the surface of the
Earth. Calculate :
(a) the gravitational field strength at this distance from the centre of the Earth (ans : 0,203
N/kg)
(b) The gravitational force exerted on the satellite (6,09 N)
(c) The acceleration of the satellite( ans : 0,2 m/s 2)
4. A 200 kg mass is at a height of 5000 km above the Earth’s surface
(a) at this point calculate the gravitational potential
(b) calculate the gravitational potential energy of the mass
5. A stationary object is released from point P at a distance 3R from the center of the Moon ahich
has a radius R and mass M. What is the speed of the object on hitting the Moon in terms of G,M
4 GM
and R (ans :
√ 3R
6. Two stationary particles of masses M1 and M2 are a distance d apart . A third particle lying on the
line joining the particles, experiences no resultant gravitational force . What is the distance of
√M1
this particle from M1 (ans :d
[ √ M 1 +√ M 2 ]
7. The gravitational field strength on an unknown planet of diameter d is E. What is the
gravitational field stength on another planet of diameter 2d and having same mean density ?
(ans : E’ = 2E)
8. The Earth is 1.5x1011 m from the centre of the sun and takes exactly one year ro complete one
orbit. The planet Jupiter takes 11,9 years to complete an orbit of the sun. Calculate the radius of
Jupiter’s orbit. (ans : 7,82 x 1011m)
9. Find the escape speed at the surface of Mercury , which as a mass M = 3,31x10 23 kg and a radius
R = 2440 km. (ans : 4,25 km/s)
10. A space probe is launced from the Earth with an initial speed so that it has a final speed of 60
km/s when it is very far away from the Earth. What is the initial speed ? (ans : 61 km/s)
11. (a) define gravitional potential at a point
(b) An object is projected vertically from the surface of the Earth, so that it reaches an altitude
of 1.4 x104 km. Assuming Earth has apoint mass of 6.0x10 24 kg and radius of 6.4x103 km ,
calculate for this object :
(i) the change in gravitational potential (ans : 4,29x10 7 J/kg)
(ii) the speed of projection from the Earth’s surface ,assuming air resitance is negligible
(ans : 9260 m/s)
(c) Suggest why the equation : v2 = u2 + 2as is not appropriate for this calculation
EXERCISE 3 (GRAVITATIONAL FIELD)

2013-2014