Essential University Physics, 3e (Wolfson)

Chapter 8 Gravity

8.1 Conceptual Questions

1) A baseball is located at the surface of the earth. Which statements about it are correct? (There
may be more than one correct choice.)
A) The earth exerts a much greater gravitational force on the ball than the ball exerts on the
earth.
B) The ball exerts a greater gravitational force on the earth than the earth exerts on the ball.
C) The gravitational force on the ball due to the earth is exactly the same as the gravitational
force on the earth due to the ball.
D) The gravitational force on the ball is independent of the mass of the ball.
E) The gravitational force on the ball is independent of the mass of the earth.
Answer: C
Var: 1

2) A very small round ball is located near a large solid sphere of uniform density. The force that
the large sphere exerts on the ball
A) is exactly the same as it would be if all the mass of the sphere were concentrated at the center
of the sphere.
B) is approximately the same as it would be if all the mass of the sphere were concentrated at the
center of the sphere.
C) is independent of the mass of the ball.
D) is independent of the mass of the sphere.
E) can only be calculated using calculus.
Answer: A
Var: 1

3) Planet Z-34 has a mass equal to 1/3 that of Earth, a radius equal to 1/3 that of Earth, and an
axial spin rate 1/2 that of Earth. With g representing, as usual, the acceleration due to gravity on
the surface of Earth, the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Z-34 is
A) g/3.
B) 3g.
C) 6g.
D) g/9.
E) 9g.
Answer: B
Var: 1

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4) If the mass of the earth and all objects on it were suddenly doubled, but the size remained the
same, the acceleration due to gravity at the surface would become
A) 4 times what it now is.
B) 2 times what it now is.
C) the same as it now is.
D) 1/2 of what it now is.
E) 1/4 of what it now is.
Answer: B
Var: 1

5) Two planets having equal masses are in circular orbit around a star. Planet A has a smaller
orbital radius than planet B. Which statement is true?
A) Planet A has more kinetic energy, less potential energy, and less mechanical energy (potential
plus kinetic) than planet B.
B) Planet A has more kinetic energy, more potential energy, and more mechanical energy
(potential plus kinetic) than planet B.
C) Planet A has more kinetic energy, less potential energy, and more mechanical energy
(potential plus kinetic) than planet B.
D) Planet A and planet B have the same amount of mechanical energy (potential plus kinetic).
Answer: A
Var: 1

6) A certain planet has an escape speed V. If another planet of the same size has twice the mass
as the first planet, its escape speed will be
A) 2V.
B) V.
C) V.
D) V/2.
E) V/ .
Answer: B
Var: 1

7) A certain planet has an escape speed V. If another planet has twice size and twice the mass of
the first planet, its escape speed will be
A) 2V.
B) V.
C) V.
D) V/2.
E) V/ .
Answer: C
Var: 1

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8) A satellite is orbiting the earth. If a payload of material is added until it doubles the satellite's
mass, the earth's pull of gravity on this satellite will double but the satellite's orbit will not be
affected.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A
Var: 1

9) A satellite in a circular orbit of radius R around planet X has an orbital period T. If Planet X
had one-fourth as much mass, the orbital period of this satellite in an orbit of the same radius
would be
A) 4T.
B) 2T.
C) T
D) T/2.
E) T/4.
Answer: B
Var: 1

10) A satellite of mass m has an orbital period T when it is in a circular orbit of radius R around
the earth. If the satellite instead had mass 4m, its orbital period would be
A) 4T.
B) 2T.
C) T.
D) T/2.
E) T/4.
Answer: C
Var: 1

11) The reason an astronaut in an earth satellite feels weightless is that

A) the astronaut is beyond the range of the earth's gravity.
B) the astronaut is falling.
C) the astronaut is at a point in space where the effects of the moon's gravity and the earth's
gravity cancel.
D) this is a psychological effect associated with rapid motion.
E) the astronaut's acceleration is zero.
Answer: B
Var: 1

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8.2 Problems

1) A small-sized 155-kg mass is located 1.50 m from a small-sized 275-kg mass, with both
masses fixed in place. Where should you place a third small-sized mass so that the net
gravitational force on it due to the original two masses is zero?
Answer: 0.643 m from the 155-kg mass along the line connecting the two given masses
Var: 1

2) An astronaut is in equilibrium when he is positioned from the center of asteroid X and

from the center of asteroid Y, along the straight line joining the centers of the asteroids.
What is the ratio of the masses X/Y of the asteroids?
A) 0.0581
B) 17.2
C) 0.241
D) 4.15
Answer: A
Var: 50+

3) Three identical very small 50-kg masses are held at the corners of an equilateral triangle, 0.30
m on each side. If one of the masses is released, what is its initial acceleration if the only forces
acting on it are the gravitational forces due to the other two masses? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ·
m2/kg2)
A) 3.7 × 10-8 m/s2
B) 2.5 × 10-8 m/s2
C) 1.9 × 10-8 m/s2
D) 4.2 × 10-8 m/s2
E) 6.4 × 10-8 m/s2
Answer: E
Var: 1

4) A small planet having a radius of 1000 km exerts a gravitational force of 100 N on an object
that is 500 km above its surface. If this object is moved 500 km farther from the planet, the
gravitational force on it will be closest to
A) 75 N.
B) 71 N.
C) 56 N.
D) 50 N.
E) 25 N.
Answer: C
Var: 1

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5) The gravitational acceleration on a planet's surface is 16.0 m/s2. What is the gravitational
acceleration at an altitude of one planet diameter above the SURFACE of the planet?
A) 5.33 m/s2
B) 1.78 m/s2
C) 1.60 m/s2
D) 4.00 m/s2
E) 8.00 m/s2
Answer: B
Var: 1

6) The radius of the earth is R. At what distance above the earth's surface will the acceleration of
gravity be 4.9 m/s2?
A) 0.41R
B) 0.50R
C) 1.0R
D) 1.4R
E) 2.0R
Answer: A
Var: 1

7) By how many newtons does the weight of a 100-kg person change when he goes from sea
level to an altitude of 5.0 km if we neglect the earth's rotational effects? (The mean radius of the
Earth is 6.38 × 106 m, G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2.)
A) -0.60 N
B) -1.5 N
C) -2.6 N
D) -3.6 N
E) -5.2 N
Answer: B
Var: 1

8) The weight of spaceman Speff at the surface of planet X, solely due to its gravitational pull, is
389 N. If he moves to a distance of 1.86 × 104 km above the planet's surface, his weight changes
to 24.31 N. What is the mass of planet X, if Speff's mass is 75.0 kg? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ·
m2/kg2)
A) 2.99 × 1024 kg
B) 2.99 × 1018 kg
C) 2.99 × 1017 kg
D) 1.59 × 1018 kg
Answer: A
Var: 1

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9) From what height above the surface of the earth should an object be dropped to initially
experience an acceleration of 0.9200g? The radius of the earth is 6.38 × 106 m.
A) 272 km
B) 260 km
C) 554 km
D) 510 km
Answer: A
Var: 1

10) An object drops a distance h in a time of 6.3 s on the surface of the earth (neglecting air
effects). How long would it take the same object to drop the same distance on the surface of
spherical asteroid X having a mass of 1.1 × 1022 kg and a radius of 4.0 × 105 m? (G = 6.67 × 10-
11 N · m2/kg2, Mearth = 5.97 × 1024 kg, Rearth = 6.38 × 106 m)
A) 9.2 s
B) 6.3 s
C) 5.2 s
D) 12 s
E) 3.3 s
Answer: A
Var: 1

11) Ekapluto is an unknown planet that has two spherical moons in circular orbits. The table
summarizes the hypothetical data about the moons. Both moons have low axial spin rates. (G =
6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)

Orbital
Mass Radius Orbital radius period
Moon A 4.0 × 1020 kg 2.0 × 108 m 4.0 × 106 s
Moon B 1.5 × 1020 kg 2.0 × 105 m 3.0 × 108 m

The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of Moon B is

A) 0.10 m/s2.
B) 0.15 m/s2.
C) 0.20 m/s2.
D) 0.25 m/s2.
E) 0.30 m/s2.
Answer: D
Var: 1

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12) Sputnik I was launched into orbit around Earth in 1957. It had a perigee (the closest approach
to Earth, measured from Earth's center) of 6.81 × 106 m and an apogee (the furthest point from
Earth's center) of 7.53 × 106 m. What was its speed when it was at its perigee? The mass of
Earth is 5.97 × 1024 kg and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2.
A) 7180 m/s
B) 7840 m/s
C) 8230 m/s
D) 11,000 m/s
E) 13,400 m/s
Answer: B
Var: 1

13) Beings on spherical asteroid Π have observed that a large rock is approaching their asteroid
in a collision course. At from the center of the asteroid, the rock has a speed of
and later at it has a speed of Use energy conservation to find the
mass of asteroid Π. You can neglect any effects due to the parent star of the asteroid. (G = 6.67 ×
10-11 N · m2/kg2)
A) 4.582 × kg
B) 9.164 × kg
C) 6.112 × kg
D) 4.582 × kg
Answer: A
Var: 50+

14) What is the ratio of the escape speed of a rocket launched from sea level to the escape speed
of one launched from Mt. Everest (an altitude of 8.85 km)? The radius of the earth is 6.38 × 106
m.
A) 1.0007
B) 1.0014
C) 1.0001
D) 0.9986
E) 0.9993
Answer: A
Var: 1

15) A huge cannon is assembled on an airless planet having insignificant axial spin. The planet
has a radius of 5.00 × 106 m and a mass of 3.95 × 1023 kg. The cannon fires a projectile straight
up at 2000 m/s. An observation satellite orbits the planet at a height of 1000 km. What is the
projectile's speed as it passes the satellite? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)
A) 1500 m/s
B) 1380 m/s
C) 1610 m/s
D) 1280 m/s
Answer: A
Var: 50+
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16) A meteoroid, heading straight for Earth, has a speed of 14.8 km/s relative to the center of
Earth as it crosses our moon's orbit, a distance of 3.84 × 108 m from the earth's center. What is
the meteroid’s speed as it hits the earth? You can neglect the effects of the moon, Earth’s
atmosphere, and any motion of the earth. (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2, Mearth = 5.97 × 1024
kg)
A) 18.5 km/s
B) 21.5 km/s
C) 32.4 km/s
D) 87.3 km/s
Answer: A
Var: 1

17) A certain spherical asteroid has a mass of 3.5 × 1016 kg and a radius of 8.8 km. What is the
minimum speed needed to escape from the surface of this asteroid? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ·
m2/kg2)
A) 23 m/s
B) 16 m/s
C) 520 m/s
D) 730 m/s
Answer: A
Var: 50+

18) A 910-kg object is released from rest at an altitude of 1200 km above the north pole of the
earth. If we ignore atmospheric friction, with what speed does the object strike the surface of the
earth? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2, Mearth = 5.97 × 1024 kg, the polar radius of the earth is
6357 km)
A) 4.5 km/s
B) 2.2 km/s
C) 2.7 km/s
D) 3.2 km/s
E) 4.8 km/s
Answer: A
Var: 1

19) A satellite is in circular orbit at an altitude of 1500 km above the surface of a nonrotating
planet with an orbital speed of 9.2 km/s. The minimum speed needed to escape from the surface
of the planet is 14.9 km/s, and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2. The orbital period of the satellite is
closest to
A) 72 min.
B) 65 min.
C) 58 min.
D) 51 min.
E) 44 min.
Answer: A
Var: 50+

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20) A satellite is in circular orbit at an altitude of 2300 km above the surface of a nonrotating
asteroid with an orbital speed of 5.9 km/s. The minimum speed needed to escape from the
surface of the asteroid is 14.6 km/s, and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2. The mass of the asteroid
is closest to
A) 1.8 × 1024 kg.
B) 8.9 × 1023 kg.
C) 1.3 × 1024 kg.
D) 2.7 × 1024 kg.
E) 3.6 × 1024 kg.
Answer: A
Var: 50+

21) An astronaut is standing on the surface of a planetary satellite that has a radius of 1.74 × 106
m and a mass of 7.35 × 1022 kg. An experiment is planned where a projectile needs to be
launched straight up from the surface. What must be the minimum initial speed of the projectile
so it will reach a height of 2.55 × 106 m above this satellite’s surface? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ·
m2/kg2)
Answer: 1.83 km/s
Var: 1

22) The International Space Station is orbiting at an altitude of about 370 km above the earth's
surface. The mass of the earth is 5.97 × 1024 kg, the radius of the earth is 6.38 × 106 m, and G =
6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2. Assuming a circular orbit,
(a) what is the period of the International Space Station's orbit?
(b) what is the speed of the International Space Station in its orbit?
Answer: (a) 5.52 × 103 s (b) 7.69 × 103 m/s
Var: 1

23) A satellite that weighs 4900 N on the launchpad travels around the earth’s equator in a
circular orbit with a period of 1.667 h. The earth’s mass is 5.97 × 1024 kg, its equatorial radius
is 6.3 × 106 m, and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2.
(a) Calculate the magnitude of the earth's gravitational force on the satellite.
(b) Determine the altitude of the satellite above the Earth's SURFACE.
Answer: (a) 3910 N (b) 7.55 × 105 m
Var: 1

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24) What is the period (in hours) of a satellite circling Mars 100 km above the planet's surface?
The mass of Mars is 6.42 × 1023 kg, its radius is 3.40 × 106 m, and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ·
m2/kg2.
A) 1.75 h
B) 1.25 h
C) 1.15 h
D) 1.00 h
E) 1.45 h
Answer: A
Var: 1

25) Jupiter completes one revolution about its own axis every 9.92 hours. What is the radius of
the orbit required for a satellite to revolve about Jupiter with the same period? Jupiter has a mass
of 1.90 × 1027 kg and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2.
A) 1.04 × 107 m
B) 2.26 × 109 m
C) 1.60 × 108 m
D) 3.41 × 108 m
E) 7.45 × 108 m
Answer: C
Var: 1

26) The moons of Mars, Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror), are very close to the planet
compared to Earth's Moon. Their orbital radii are 9,378 km and 23,459 km respectively. What is
the ratio of the orbital speed of Phobos to that of Deimos?
A) 0.2528
B) 0.3998
C) 1.582
D) 2.858
E) 3.956
Answer: C
Var: 1

27) Spaceman Speff orbits spherical asteroid X with his spaceship. To remain in a circular orbit
at from the asteroid’s center, he should maintain a speed of What is the mass of
planet X? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)
A) 4.0 × 1019 kg
B) 5.1 × 1017 kg
C) 4.0 × 1016 kg
D) 5.1 × 1014 kg
Answer: A
Var: 50+

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28) Find the orbital speed of an ice cube in the rings of Saturn. The mass of Saturn is 5.68 ×
1026 kg and the rings have an average radius of 100,000 km. (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)
A) 19.5 km/s
B) 27.5 km/s
C) 13.8 km/s
D) 1.95 km/s
Answer: A
Var: 1

29) You are the science officer on a visit to a distant solar system. Prior to landing on a planet
you measure its diameter to be 1.8 × 107 m and its rotation period to be 22.3 hours. You have
previously determined that the planet orbits 1.8 × 1011 m from its star with a period of 402 earth
days. Once on the surface you find that the acceleration due to gravity is 59.7 m/s2. What are the
mass of (a) the planet and (b) the star? (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2.)
A) (a) 7.2 kg × kg, (b) 2.9 kg × kg
B) (a) 1.3 kg × kg, (b) 2.9 kg × kg
C) (a) 7.2 kg × kg, (b) 1.7 kg × kg
D) (a) 1.3 kg × kg, (b) 1.7 kg × kg
Answer: A
Var: 50+

30) Suppose we want a satellite to revolve around the earth 5 times a day. What should be the
radius of its orbit? (The mass of the earth is 5.97 × 1024 kg, G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2, and
you can neglect the presence of the moon.)
A) 1.44 × 107 m
B) 0.690 × 107 m
C) 7.22 × 107 m
D) 2.11 × 107 m
Answer: A
Var: 9

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31) Ekapluto is an unknown planet that has two moons in circular orbits. The table summarizes
the hypothetical data about the moons. (G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)

Mass Radius Orbital radius Orbital period

Moon A 4.0 × 1020 kg 2.0 × 108 m 4.0 × 106 s
Moon B 1.5 × 1020 kg 2.0 × 105 m 3.0 × 108 m

The mass of Ekapluto is closest to

A) 1.0 × 1022 kg.
B) 3.0 × 1022 kg.
C) 1.0 × 1023 kg.
D) 3.0 × 1023 kg.
E) 1.0 × 1024 kg.
Answer: D
Var: 1

32) A man-made satellite of mass 6105 kg is in orbit around the earth, making one revolution in
430 minutes. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted on the satellite by the
earth? (The mass of the earth is 6.0 × 1024 kg and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N · m2/kg2)
Answer: 2.5 × 103 N
Var: 50+

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