D.

1 Structured QP [141 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 4]
A satellite moves around Earth in a circular orbit.

(a) Draw an arrow on the diagram to represent the direction of the

acceleration of the satellite. [1]

(b) The following data are given:

Mass of Earth, M = 5.97 × 1024 kg

Radius of Earth, R = 6.37 × 106 m
Orbital period of the satellite, T = 5.62 × 103 s

(b.i) Kepler’s Third Law of orbital motion states that T 2 = kr 3

where k is a constant and r is the orbital radius of the satellite.

4π
2

Show that k =
GM
. [1]
 (b.ii) Determine the height of the satellite above the Earth’s surface. [2]

2. [Maximum mark: 5]
(a) A comet orbits the Sun in an elliptical orbit. A and B are two
positions of the comet.

Explain, with reference to Kepler’s second law of planetary

motion, the change in the kinetic energy of the comet as it
moves from A to B. [3]
 (b) An asteroid (minor planet) orbits the Sun in a circular orbit of
radius 4.5 × 108 km. The radius of Earth’s orbit is 1.5 × 108 km.
Calculate, in years, the orbital period of the asteroid. [2]

3. [Maximum mark: 7]
One of Kepler’s laws suggests that for moons that have circular orbits around a
planet:
2
T
= k
4πr
3

where T is the orbital period of the moon, r is the radius of its circular orbit
about the planet, and k is a constant.

(a) Show that k =

1
. [2]
GM
(b) The table gives data relating to the two moons of Mars.

Moon T / hour r / Mm
Phobos 7.66 9.38
Deimos 30.4 -

Determine r for Deimos. [2]

(c) Determine the mass of Mars. [3]

4. [Maximum mark: 6]
(a) Show that T ∝ r
3

2 for the planets in a solar system where T is

the orbital period of a planet and r is the radius of circular orbit
of planet about its sun. [2]

(b.i) Outline what is meant by one astronomical unit (1 AU) [1]

(b.ii) Pluto is a dwarf planet of the Sun that orbits at a distance of 5.9
× 109 km from the Sun. Determine, in years, the orbital period of
Pluto. [3]
5. [Maximum mark: 1]
orbital speed; [1]

6. [Maximum mark: 7]
(a) The radius of the dwarf planet Pluto is 1.19 x 106 m. The
acceleration due to gravity at its surface is 0.617 m s−2.

Determine the escape speed for an object at the surface of

Pluto. [4]
 (b) Pluto rotates about an axis through its centre. Its rotation is in
the opposite sense to that of the Earth, i.e. from east to west.

Explain the advantage of an object launching from the equator

of Pluto and travelling to the west. [3]

7. [Maximum mark: 12]

A space probe of mass 95 kg is designed to land on the surface of an asteroid.
The gravitational field strength g of the asteroid at its surface is 2.7 × 10−3 m s−2.

(a) The radius r of the asteroid is 230 km. Calculate the mass of the
asteroid. [2]
(b) The probe is carried to the asteroid on board a spacecraft.

Calculate the weight of the probe when close to the surface of

the asteroid. [1]

(c.i) As the probe approaches the surface of the asteroid, a rocket

engine is fired to slow its descent. Explain how the engine
changes the speed of the probe. [3]
(c.ii) A constant force of 12.0 N is exerted by the rocket engine.
Determine the time for which the rocket must fire to reduce the
speed of the probe from 0.64 m s−1 to zero. State your answer
to an appropriate number of significant figures. [4]

(d) As the probe lands, a small stone resting on a rock on the

asteroid’s surface is projected horizontally from the top of the
rock. The horizontal speed of the stone is 34 m s−1 from a
height of 1.9 m above the surface of the asteroid.
 Estimate the horizontal distance from the stone’s point of [2]
projection along the line AB at which the stone lands. Ignore
the curvature of the asteroid.

8. [Maximum mark: 10]

Ceres is a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt. The following data are available.

Mean distance of Ceres from the Sun = 4.4 × 1011 m

Mean power output of the Sun = 3.8 × 1026 W

(a.i) Determine the mean temperature of Ceres assuming that it acts

as a black-body radiator. [3]
(a.ii) Ceres has a solid rocky core covered with solid ice. The mean
temperature is higher than your answer in (a)(i) because
radioactive nuclei in the centre of Ceres are decaying. Outline
how the energy from the radioactive decay reaches the surface. [2]

(b) At low temperatures such as the mean temperature of Ceres,

water undergoes a phase change directly from solid to gas.

(b.i) Compare the molecular conditions of the solid phase and the
gas phase at the same temperature. [3]
(b.ii) The maximum surface temperature of Ceres is −38 °C.
Observations show that significant quantities of water vapour
are released from the surface of Ceres every second when the
temperature is at this maximum. Calculate the mean kinetic
energy of a molecule of water vapour at this temperature. [1]

(b.iii) The following data are available.

Radius of Ceres = 4.7 × 105 m

Mass of Ceres = 9.0 × 1020 kg
Show that the gravitational potential at the surface of Ceres is
about −105 J kg−1. [1]
9. [Maximum mark: 14]
A space probe of mass 95 kg is designed to land on the surface of an asteroid.
The gravitational field strength g of the asteroid at its surface is 2.7 × 10−3 m s−2.

(a) The radius r of the asteroid is 230 km. Calculate the mass of the
asteroid. [2]

(b) The probe is carried to the asteroid on board a spacecraft.

Calculate the weight of the probe when close to the surface of

the asteroid. [1]
(c.i) As the probe approaches the surface of the asteroid, a rocket
engine is fired to slow its descent. Explain how the engine
changes the speed of the probe. [3]

(c.ii) A constant force of 12.0 N is exerted by the rocket engine.

Determine the time for which the rocket must fire to reduce the
speed of the probe from 0.64 m s−1 to zero. State your answer
to an appropriate number of significant figures. [4]
(d.i) Show that the escape speed v esc of the asteroid is given by

v esc = √2gr. [1]

(d.ii) Calculate the escape speed of the asteroid. [1]

(e) As the probe lands, a small stone resting on a rock on the

asteroid’s surface is projected horizontally from the top of the
rock. The horizontal speed of the stone is 34 m s−1 from a
height of 1.9 m above the surface of the asteroid.
 [2]

Estimate the horizontal distance from the stone’s point of

projection along the line AB at which the stone lands. Ignore
the curvature of the asteroid.

10. [Maximum mark: 11]

A moon M orbits a planet P. The gravitational field strength at the surface of P
due to P is gP.
The gravitational field strength at the surface of M due to M is gM.

For M and P: = 0.27 and = 0.055

radius of M mass of M

radius of P mass of P

gM
(a) Determine gP
. [2]
(b) Point O lies on the line joining the centre of M to the centre of P.

The graph shows the variation of gravitational potential V with

distance x from the surface of P to O.

The gradient of the graph is zero at point O.

(b.i) State and explain the magnitude of the resultant gravitational

field strength at O. [2]
(b.ii) Outline why the graph between P and O is negative. [2]

(b.iii) Show that the gravitational potential VP at the surface of P due

to the mass of P is given by VP = −gP RP where RP is the radius of
the planet. [2]

(b.iv) The gravitational potential due to the mass of M at the surface

of P can be assumed to be negligible.

Estimate, using the graph, the gravitational potential at the

surface of M due to the mass of M. [2]
 (b.v) Draw on the axes the variation of gravitational potential
between O and M. [1]

11. [Maximum mark: 11]

(a) The centres of two identical fixed conducting spheres each of
charge +Q are separated by a distance D. C is the midpoint of the
line joining the centres of the spheres.

(a.i) Sketch, on the axes, how the electric potential V due to the two
charges varies with the distance r from the centre of the left
charge. No numbers are required. Your graph should extend
from r = 0 to r = D.

[3]

(a.ii) Calculate the work done to bring a small charge q from infinity
to point C.
 Data given:

Q = 2.0 × 10−3 C,

q = 4.0 × 10−9 C

D = 1.2 m [2]

(b) The small positive charge q is placed a distance x to the right of

C. The distance x is very small compared to D.

(b.i) 32kQq
The magnitude of the net force on q is given by D x. 3

Explain why the charge q will execute simple harmonic

oscillations about C. [2]
 (b.ii) The mass of the charge q is 0.025 kg.

Calculate the angular frequency of the oscillations using the

data in (a)(ii) and the expression in (b)(i). [2]

(c) The charges Q are replaced by neutral masses M and the charge q
by a neutral mass m. The mass m is displaced away from C by a
small distance x and released. Discuss whether the motion of m
will be the same as that of q. [2]

12. [Maximum mark: 6]

A satellite is launched from the surface of Earth into a circular orbit.

The following data are given.

Mass of the satellite = 8.0 × 102 kg

Height of the orbit above the surface of Earth = 5.0 × 105 m

 Mass of Earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg

Radius of Earth = 6.4 × 106 m

(a) The diagram shows field lines for an electrostatic field. X and Y
are two points on the same field line.

Outline which of the two points has the larger electric potential. [2]

(b.i) Show that the kinetic energy of the satellite in orbit is about 2 ×
1010 J. [2]
 (b.ii) Determine the minimum energy required to launch the
satellite. Ignore the original kinetic energy of the satellite due
to Earth’s rotation. [2]

13. [Maximum mark: 9]

Titan is a moon of Saturn. The Titan-Sun distance is 9.3 times greater than
the Earth-Sun distance.

(a.i) Show that the intensity of the solar radiation at the location of
Titan is 16 W m−2 [1]

(a.ii) Titan has an atmosphere of nitrogen. The albedo of the

atmosphere is 0.22. The surface of Titan may be assumed to be a
 black body. Explain why the average intensity of solar radiation
absorbed by the whole surface of Titan is 3.1 W m−2 [3]

(a.iii) Show that the equilibrium surface temperature of Titan is about

90 K. [1]

(b.i) The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is R and the period of
revolution is T .

4π R
2 3

Show that T 2 =
GM
where M is the mass of Saturn. [2]

(b.ii) The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is 1.2 × 109 m and the
orbital period is 15.9 days. Estimate the mass of Saturn. [2]
14. [Maximum mark: 7]
The table gives data for Jupiter and three of its moons, including the radius r of
each object.

A spacecraft is to be sent from Io to infinity.

(a) Calculate, for the surface of Io, the gravitational field strength
gIo due to the mass of Io. State an appropriate unit for your
answer. [2]
(b.i) Show that the
gravitational potential due to Jupiter at the orbit of Io

gravitational potential due to Io at the surf ace of Io

is
about 80. [2]

(b.ii) Outline, using (b)(i), why it is not correct to use the equation
2G×mass of Io
√
radius of Io
to calculate the speed required for the
spacecraft to reach infinity from the surface of Io. [1]

(c) An engineer needs to move a space probe of mass 3600 kg from

Ganymede to Callisto. Calculate the energy required to move
the probe from the orbital radius of Ganymede to the orbital
radius of Callisto. Ignore the mass of the moons in your
calculation. [2]
15. [Maximum mark: 8]
A planet is in a circular orbit around a star. The speed of the planet is constant.
The following data are given:

Mass of planet = 8. 0 × 10
24
kg
30
Mass of star = 3. 2 × 10 kg
Distance from the star to the planet R = 4. 4 × 10
10
m.

A spacecraft is to be launched from the surface of the planet to escape from the
star system. The radius of the planet is 9.1 × 103 km.

(a) Explain why a centripetal force is needed for the planet to be in

a circular orbit. [2]

(b) Calculate the value of the centripetal force. [1]

(c.i) Show that the gravitational potential due to the planet and the
star at the surface of the planet is about −5 × 109 J kg−1. [3]

(c.ii) Estimate the escape speed of the spacecraft from the planet–
star system. [2]
16. [Maximum mark: 10]
The moon Phobos moves around the planet Mars in a circular orbit.

(a.i) Outline the origin of the force that acts on Phobos. [1]

(a.ii) Outline why this force does no work on Phobos. [1]

(b.i) The orbital period T of a moon orbiting a planet of mass M is

given by

3
R
= kM
2
T

where R is the average distance between the centre of the

planet and the centre of the moon.

Show that k
G
=
4π
2
[3]
(b.ii) The following data for the Mars–Phobos system and the Earth–
Moon system are available:

Mass of Earth = 5.97 × 1024 kg

The Earth–Moon distance is 41 times the Mars–Phobos distance.

The orbital period of the Moon is 86 times the orbital period of

Phobos.

Calculate, in kg, the mass of Mars. [2]

(c) The graph shows the variation of the gravitational potential

between the Earth and Moon with distance from the centre of
the Earth. The distance from the Earth is expressed as a fraction
 of the total distance between the centre of the Earth and the
centre of the Moon.

[3]

Determine, using the graph, the mass of the Moon.

17. [Maximum mark: 7]

The Moon has no atmosphere and orbits the Earth. The diagram shows the Moon
with rays of light from the Sun that are incident at 90° to the axis of rotation of
the Moon.

(a.i) A black body is on the Moon’s surface at point A. Show that the
maximum temperature that this body can reach is 400 K.
Assume that the Earth and the Moon are the same distance
from the Sun. [2]

(a.ii) Another black body is on the Moon’s surface at point B.

Outline, without calculation, why the aximum temperature of

the black body at point B is less than at point A. [2]
 (b) The albedo of the Earth’s atmosphere is 0.28. Outline why the
maximum temperature of a black body on the Earth when the
Sun is overhead is less than that at point A on the Moon. [1]

(c.i) Outline why a force acts on the Moon. [1]

(c.ii) Outline why this force does no work on the Moon. [1]

18. [Maximum mark: 6]

A planet of mass m is in a circular orbit around a star. The gravitational potential
due to the star at the position of the planet is V.
(ai) Show that the total energy of the planet is given by the
equation shown.

E =
1

2
mV [2]

(aii) Suppose the star could contract to half its original radius
without any loss of mass. Discuss the effect, if any, this has on
the total energy of the planet. [2]

(b) The diagram shows some of the electric field lines for two fixed,
charged particles X and Y.
 [2]

The magnitude of the charge on X is Q and that on Y is q. The

distance between X and Y is 0.600 m. The distance between P
and Y is 0.820 m.

At P the electric field is zero. Determine, to one significant

Q
figure, the ratio q
.

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