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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

3.02 Gravity Practice Quiz

Master gravity concepts with engaging practice tests

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 10
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art representing Gravity Unleashed, a trivia quiz for high school physics students.

Which of the following best describes gravitational force?
A force of attraction between any two masses
A force produced by friction
A force that only acts on objects in free fall
A force of repulsion between like charges
Gravitational force is a fundamental force that attracts any two masses toward each other. This concept is central to understanding planetary motion and object interactions.
Which formula correctly represents Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation?
F = ½ m * v²
F = G * (m1 + m2) / r
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r²
F = m * g
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force between two masses is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The correct formula is F = G * (m1 * m2) / r².
What is the approximate value of gravitational acceleration near Earth's surface?
9.8 m/s²
3.2 m/s²
15.0 m/s²
1.6 m/s²
The standard acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s². This value is widely used in calculations involving free fall and projectile motion.
Which factor does not affect the gravitational force between two objects?
The distance between the objects
The mass of the objects
The color of the objects
The gravitational constant
Gravitational force depends solely on the masses of the objects, the distance between them, and the gravitational constant. The color of an object has no effect on gravitational interactions.
How is weight defined in the context of gravity?
The energy stored in a gravitational field
The resistance to acceleration
The force of gravity acting on an object's mass
The measure of mass in kilograms
Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and is calculated as the product of its mass and gravitational acceleration. This distinction is important when differentiating weight from mass.
How does the gravitational force change when the distance between two objects is doubled?
It is doubled
It is reduced to one-fourth of its original value
It is halved
It remains the same
According to the inverse square law, gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between two objects. Doubling the distance increases the denominator by a factor of four, thereby reducing the force to one-fourth.
Which component of the gravitational force equation is a fixed universal constant?
Gravitational force, F
Distance, r
Mass of an object
Gravitational constant, G
The gravitational constant, G, is a fixed value that applies universally in Newton's law of gravitation. Its constant nature allows for consistent calculations of gravitational forces in different scenarios.
How does mass affect the gravitational force between two objects?
The force is independent of the masses
The force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses
The force is inversely proportional to the sum of the masses
The force is proportional to the difference of the masses
Newton's law of gravitation shows that the gravitational force increases with an increase in the product of the masses involved. This direct proportionality is a key concept in understanding how mass influences gravitational pull.
In the context of gravitational forces, what does the term 'gravitational potential energy' refer to?
The thermal energy due to gravitational compression
The energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field
The kinetic energy of an object in motion
The energy lost due to friction in free fall
Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object as a result of its position within a gravitational field. This concept is crucial for solving energy conservation problems in physics.
When an object falls toward Earth, what happens to its gravitational potential energy?
It increases as the object gets closer to the Earth
It is converted into kinetic energy
It remains constant because energy is conserved
It is converted into heat energy
As an object falls, its gravitational potential energy decreases while converting into kinetic energy, making it move faster. This conversion is a fundamental demonstration of the conservation of energy principle.
What is the escape velocity from a planet?
The constant speed at which an object orbits the planet
The speed at which an object starts to fall towards the planet
The speed causing an object to bounce off the planet's surface
The speed required for an object to overcome a planet's gravitational pull without propulsion
Escape velocity is defined as the minimum speed an object must achieve to break free from a planet's gravitational pull without further propulsion. This concept is derived from equating kinetic energy with gravitational potential energy.
Which statement best describes orbital motion due to gravity?
An orbit results from the balance between gravitational pull and an object's inertia
An object in orbit is free from any gravitational forces
Orbital motion requires continuous propulsion to counteract gravity
Orbits occur due to air resistance balancing gravity
Orbital motion happens when an object's forward inertia balances the inward pull of gravity, resulting in a stable path around a planet. This delicate equilibrium is the basis of planetary or satellite orbits.
How does gravitational field strength vary with distance from the center of a planet?
It decreases as the square of the distance
It decreases linearly with distance
It remains constant regardless of distance
It increases with increasing distance
The gravitational field strength follows an inverse square law, meaning it diminishes as the square of the distance from the center increases. This principle is central to understanding how gravity weakens with distance.
Which of the following factors is directly responsible for an object's weight on a planet?
The object's volume and density
The planet's gravitational acceleration and the object's mass
The gravitational constant only
The distance from the object to the center of the planet only
An object's weight is determined by the product of its mass and the gravitational acceleration at the planet's surface. This is a direct application of the equation weight = mass - gravitational acceleration.
How would you expect the gravitational pull on a satellite to change if it is moved to an orbit twice as far from the planet's center?
It would become half as strong
It would become one-fourth as strong
It would not change
It would become twice as strong
Due to the inverse square law, doubling the orbital distance reduces the gravitational pull to one-fourth its original strength. This relationship is essential when calculating orbital dynamics.
Calculate the ratio of gravitational forces for two different pairs: Pair 1 with masses 5 kg and 10 kg at 2 m apart, and Pair 2 with masses 10 kg and 20 kg at 4 m apart.
Pair 2 has twice the gravitational force as Pair 1
Pair 1 has half the gravitational force of Pair 2
The gravitational forces are equal
Pair 1 has twice the gravitational force as Pair 2
For Pair 1, the force is proportional to (5 - 10)/(2²) = 50/4 = 12.5, and for Pair 2 it is (10 - 20)/(4²) = 200/16 = 12.5. Since both calculations yield the same value, the gravitational forces are equal.
An astronaut weighs 800 N on Earth. What would be his approximate weight on a moon where gravitational acceleration is 1/6 of Earth's?
Approximately 133 N
Approximately 800 N
Approximately 1600 N
Approximately 400 N
Weight is directly proportional to gravitational acceleration. Since the moon's gravity is 1/6 that of Earth's, the astronaut's weight would be 800 N divided by 6, which is roughly 133 N.
A satellite orbits Earth at an altitude where the local gravitational acceleration is 5 m/s². Given Earth's radius is 6,371 km, what is the approximate orbital radius (distance from Earth's center) of the satellite?
Approximately 8.9 x 10^6 m
Approximately 6.4 x 10^6 m
Approximately 5.0 x 10^6 m
Approximately 1.3 x 10^7 m
Using the inverse square relationship, the orbital radius can be estimated by multiplying Earth's radius by √(9.8/5) which is approximately 1.4. Therefore, the orbital radius is roughly 6.371 x 10^6 m - 1.4, or about 8.9 x 10^6 m.
In a two-body system, if the distance between the objects is halved, how does the gravitational potential energy change?
It doubles in magnitude, becoming more negative
It remains unchanged
It becomes positive
It is halved
Gravitational potential energy is given by U = -G * (m1 * m2) / r. Halving the distance increases the magnitude of U by a factor of two (making it more negative), indicating a stronger gravitational binding.
Consider two planets with equal masses but different radii. Where would an object on the surface experience a stronger gravitational field?
On the planet with the smaller radius
Both experience the same gravitational field
It depends on the object's altitude above the surface
On the planet with the larger radius
The gravitational field strength at a planet's surface is given by g = GM/R². For two planets with equal mass, the one with the smaller radius (smaller R) will yield a higher value of g. This demonstrates how distance from the center affects gravitational strength.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze gravitational forces and their effects on objects.
  2. Apply Newton's law of universal gravitation to solve quantitative problems.
  3. Interpret concepts of gravitational fields and potential energy.
  4. Compute gravitational interactions using relevant formulas.
  5. Evaluate the impact of mass and distance on gravitational force.

3.02 Gravity Quiz: Exam Review Cheat Sheet

  1. Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation - Imagine every object in the universe whispering "pull me closer"! This law tells us that the force between two masses is F = G · (m₝ · m₂)/r², meaning larger masses or shorter distances crank up the attraction. It's your go‑to for calculating everything from apple drops to planet orbits. Read more
  2. Gravitational Constant (G) - This tiny number (~6.674×10❻¹¹ N·m²/kg²) sets the "strength dial" for gravity in all your equations. Nail down G and you'll unlock the power to compute forces between any two masses in the cosmos. Read more
  3. Acceleration Due to Gravity (g) - Here on Earth, everything falls at about 9.8 m/s² - no matter your shoe size! Whether you're tracking a tumbling apple or plotting a cannonball's path, g is the constant that keeps free‑fall fun. Study the equations
  4. Gravitational Potential Energy (U) - Think of this as a "cosmic savings account" of energy an object has due to its position, calculated as U = - G · (m₝ · m₂)/r. The deeper the negative value, the more work you'd need to pull an object away, making energy‑conservation puzzles a total blast. Explore more
  5. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion - Meet the trio that choreographs planetary dances: ellipses for orbits, equal areas in equal times, and a precise period‑distance relationship. These laws let you predict planetary positions like a cosmic choreographer. Learn more
  6. Gravitational Field Strength (g) - This measures the force per unit mass, g = G · M/r², showing how gravity weakens as you move away from a planet. It's essential for understanding why you weigh less atop a mountain or on a space station. Dive deeper
  7. Escape Velocity - The minimum speed (vₑ = √(2 · G · M/r)) needed to break free from a planet's gravitational grip without extra thrust. Master this speed and you're officially prepped for an interplanetary road trip! Discover more
  8. Orbital Velocity - Keep the perfect pace (vₒ = √(G · M/r)) to circle a planet in a stable orbit. Satellites and astronauts rely on this magic number to stay aloft without firing rockets constantly. Find details
  9. Weightlessness - Ever wonder why astronauts float? In free‑fall or orbit, there's no net force acting on you, creating that glorious zero‑gravity sensation. It's the ultimate space party trick and a cornerstone of astronaut training. Learn why
  10. Gravitational Potential (V) - This gives the energy per unit mass at a point, V = - G · M/r, mapping out "gravitational hills and valleys" an object must climb or dive into. Use it to chart the energy landscape of any celestial field. Check it out
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