93

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

U82-5 The mass of a certain planet of uniform density is one-fifth, and its radius one-half, that of
the earth. What is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the planet as compared to
that on earth? [The gravitational acceleration on the earth’s surface is g]
B A. B. C. D. 10g E. 20g

U85-8 The mass of the earth is 80 times that of the moon, and the radius of the earth is 4 times that
of the moon. If a man can jump to a height of 1.40 m on the surface of the earth,
theoretically he might be able to jump ______ m on the surface of the moon.
D A. 0.23 B. 0.28 C. 5.60 D. 7.00 E. 9.60

U86-8 If due to some cause the Earth has its volume shrunk to of its original size (while its mass
and shape remain unchanged), then tour weight would __________.
A A. be increased to four times the original value B. be increased to twice the original value
C. be reduced to of the original value D. be reduced to half of the original value
E. remain unchanged

U87-2 A satellite is circling the Earth on a parking orbit. Which of the following statements
concerning this satellite is true?
A A. No external force is acting on it.
B. Its kinetic energy is cancelled off by its potential energy.
C. Its velocity is equal to the velocity of the rotation of the Earth.
D. Its period of revolution around the Earth is the same as that of the Earth’s own rotation.
E. Its period of revolution around the Earth is the same as the period of the Earth’s revolution
around the Sun.

U88-6 An astronaut visits a planet whose radius is the same as that of the Earth. The acceleration
due to gravity at the surface of the planet is greater than that on the Earth. Which of the
following has the same value both on that planet and on the Earth?
A A. the mass of the astronaut
B. the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum
C. the surface tension of a liquid
D. the height of jump which the astronaut can reach
E. the escape velocity of the astronaut

U90-6 A certain planet of solar system has a mass which is that of the Earth, and a radius which
is that of the Earth. Hence, the magnitude of the gravitational force experienced by a body
placed on the planet would be ________ times that on the Earth.
D A. 0.02 B. 0.5 C. 2.0 D. 2.5 E. 50

U90-P1a State Newton’s Law of Gravitation.

What is the SI unit of G, the gravitational constant?
(b) If g is the acceleration of a freely falling body at the Earth’s surface, show that ,
where  is the average density and R the radius of the Earth.
(c) A satellite is orbiting the Earth (assumed to be a sphere, whose radius is 6400 km) in a
circular path, maintaining a constant distance of 200 km from the Earth’s surface. If the
gravitational field strength in orbit (g) is 9.4 N kg–1, calculate the speed and the period of
motion of the satellite in this orbit.
[kg–1 m3 s –2; 7.88  103 m s–1; 5.26103 s]

U92-8 When the height of an artificial satellite of the Earth, measured from the ground, is
increased, then ____.
A A. the speed of the satellite will be decrease, but its period will increase
B. the speed of the satellite will increase, but its period will decrease
C. both the speed and the period of the satellite will decrease
D. both the speed and the period of the satellite will increase
Prepared by UCSCAM Gravitational Law
Arranged by 吴 德 安, 徐 嘉 敏, 周 思 洁 Copyright
 94

U91-P2a The gravitational acceleration g on the surface of the earth is 9.8 m s–2. Explain what this
means.
(b) Using Newton’s Law of Gravitation, deduce the expression for
(i) The period T of a satellite in terms of the circular orbital radius r of the satellite, the
mass ME of the earth and gravitational constant.
(ii) The gravitational field strength g` at the orbit in terms of the circular orbital radius r of
the satellite, the gravitational field g (also known as gravitational acceleration at the
earth’s surface) and the radius RE of the earth (assume the earth to be a uniform sphere).
(c) A satellite of mass 1000 kg is in a circular orbit of height 36000 km above the earth’s
surface. Calculate
(i) the orbital speed of the satellite;
(ii) the kinetic energy of the satellite. [3.07  103 m s–1; 4.72109 J]
[Take the radius of the earth RE = 6400 km, the mass of the earth ME = 6.01024 kg]

U2k03-6 Given that the average acceleration due to the gravity of the earth is g, the radius of the earth
is R and the universal gravitational constant is G, then the average density of the earth is _______.
B A. B. C. D.

U2k07-18 The gravitational force at the surface of the moon is that of the Earth. The diameter of

the moon is that of the Earth. What is the ratio of the mass of the moon to that of the
Earth?
D A. 3: 5 B. 5: 108 C. 25: 48 D. 25: 1944

U2k09-P3(a) State Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation.

(b) If the Earth’s radius is doubled, but its mass remains unchanged, how many times will the
weight of an object on Earth become as compared to its original weight?
(c) The Earth’s mass is 6.01024 kg and its radius is 6.4106 m. Find the shortest possible period
of an Earth’s satellite.
(d) If an Earth’s satellite moves around the Earth in a circular orbit in a shortest period, find the
speed of the satellite.
[ ¼; 5085 s; 7.9 km s –1]

U2k-11-P3 (b) A synchronous earth satellite is at high altitude above the equator. Find:
(i) the height of synchronous satellite;
(ii) the tangential velocity of the satellite.
[Given that: radius of earth, R = 6.38106 m; mass of earth, M = 6.01024 kg;
gravitational constant, G = 6.6710 –11 N m2 kg–2] [3.59107 m; 3.08103 m s–1]

U2k13-P4(a) State the law of universal gravitation.

(b) The mass of Sun MS can be found from the period of its planet and the distance between
the planet and the Sun. Consider the case of the Earth. Its period T is about 365 days. Its
distance re from the center of the Sun is about 1.51011 m. Estimate the mass of the Sun.
[2.011030 kg]

U2k16-P3b The time taken for the sunlight to propagate to the earth is estimated as 500 seconds and
the period of revolution of the earth around the sun is 365 days. Find
(i) the distance between the earth and the sun.
(ii) the mass of the sun. [1.51011 m; 2.011030 kg]

U2k17-9 An astronaut landed on the surface of a planet of radius R. He managed to perform a

simple experiment to determine the mass of the planet M, by using a meter ruler and a
stopwatch. If the time taken for a small iron ball to drop from a height h to the ground is
measured as t, and R >> h, which of the following correctly represents the relation of M with R,
h and t? (Note: G is the gravitational constant)
D. A. B. C. D.

Prepared by UCSCAM Gravitational Law

Arranged by 吴 德 安, 徐 嘉 敏, 周 思 洁 Copyright