Gravitational Fields

1. Gravitational field strength at a point may be defined as

A. the gravitational force on a small mass placed at the point.
B. the gravitational force per unit mass on a small mass placed at the point.
C. the work done to move unit mass from infinity to the point.
D. the work done per unit mass to move a small mass from infinity to the point.

2. Planet X has radius R and mass M. Planet Y has radius 2R and mass 8M. Which one of the following is
the correct value of the ratio
gravitatio nal field strength at surface of planet X
?
gravitatio nal field strength at surface of planet Y
A. 4
B. 2
1
C.
2
1
D.
4

3. The mass of Mars is approximately 0.1 times the mass of Earth and its diameter is approximately 0.5
times that of Earth. What is the approximate gravitational field strength on the surface of Mars?
A. 2N kg-1 B. 4N kg-1 C. 25N kg-1 D. 50N kg-1

4. This question is about gravitational fields.

a) Define gravitational field strength.

b) The gravitational field strength at the surface of Jupiter is 25 N kg–1 and the radius of Jupiter is
7.1 X 107 m.

i. Derive an expression for the gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet in terms of
its mass M, its radius R and the gravitational constant G.

ii. Use your expression in (b)(i) above to estimate the mass of Jupiter.