EXERCISE CHAPTER 6 (2025) Question 3

Question 1
The gravitational field strength, 𝑔 on the surface of the Earth
Students of masses 50 𝑘𝑔 and 40 𝑘𝑔 respectively are seated which has a radius, 𝑅 = 6.40 x 106 𝑚 is
−1
0.5 𝑚 apart. Calculate the gravitational force between them. 9.81 𝑁 k𝑔 . Determine
Hence explain why the students do not accelerate towards each
other. (a) the mass of the Earth

(b) the mean density of the Earth

Question 2

The figure shows a meteor X of mass, 𝑚 at a distance, 𝑟 from

planet 𝑃 and 2𝑟 from planet 𝑄. The masses of 𝑃 and 𝑄 are 𝑀
and 2𝑀. The angle 𝑃𝑋𝑄 is 90°.

Question 4
A spacecraft travels from the Earth to the Moon along the
straight line joining the Earth and the Moon. The mass of the
Earth is 81 times the mass of the Moon. Distance between
the Earth and the Moon is 3.8 x 108 𝑚. Find the distance
from the Earth where the resultant gravitational field strength
is zero.
Question 5 Question 7
At the equator, when an object is projected vertically upwards The radius of the Earth, 𝑅 = 6.4 x 106 𝑚 and the
with a certain velocity, the object reaches a maximum height acceleration of free fall at the equator is 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2 . What is
ℎ. If the object is projected from the North-pole with the same the acceleration of free fall at a height of 6.4 x 105 𝑚 or at a
velocity, what is the maximum height reached? [Acceleration distance of 1.1𝑅 from the centre of the Earth?
due to gravity at the equator = 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2 , radius of the Earth
= 6.4 × 106 𝑚]

Question 8
The period of a simple pendulum at the equator is 1.0 𝑠.
What is the period of the pendulum at the North-pole? [𝑟𝐸 =
6.4 x 106 𝑚, 1 day = 8.6 x 104 𝑠, 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2 at the
pole].

Question 6

A spherical planet of radius 6.4 x106 𝑚 rotates about its axis

at the rate of one revolution a day. The speed of rotation is then
increased. What is the speed of rotation of the planet when
bodies at its equator start to escape into space?
[Acceleration due to gravity at the pole of the planet is 10
𝑚𝑠 −2 ]
Question 9 Question 11

A planet is of mass 𝑀 and radius 𝑟. Its speed of rotation about A spherical planet is of mass 𝑚 and radius 𝑟. The
its axis is increased until objects on its equator start to escape acceleration due to gravity on the planets surface is 𝑔.
from the planet. Find the period of rotation of the planet when
this occurs in terms of 𝐺, 𝑀 and 𝑟. (a) Derive a formula for the mass 𝑚 of the planet in terms
of 𝑟, 𝑔 and 𝐺, the universal gravitational constant.

(b) Find the height ℎ from the surface of the planet where
1
the acceleration due to gravity is 3 𝑔.

Question 10
The mass of the earth is 80 times the mass of the Moon and
the radius of the Earth is 3.7 times the radius of the Moon. If
the acceleration due to gravity, 𝑔 on the Earth is 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2 ,
estimate the value of 𝑔 on the Moon.

Question 12

The gravitational field strength at a point 𝑃 which is at a

distance 𝑥 from the centre of the Earth is 5.0 𝑁𝑘𝑔−1 . If the
gravitational field strength on the Earth's surface is
1.0 𝑁𝑘𝑔−1 , find the possible values of 𝑥. [Radius of the
Earth, 𝑅 = 6.4 × 106 𝑚].
 Question 14

The figure below shows two stars 𝐴 and 𝐵 of the same mass
𝑀 separated by a distance 𝑟. A spaceship of mass 𝑚 is at 𝐶
where 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶 = 𝑟.

(a) Find the gravitational field strength at point 𝐶.

Question 13

Two lead spheres, each of diameter 1.0 𝑐𝑚, are 2.0 𝑚 apart.
The spheres which are free to move are released. Assuming
that the only force acting on the spheres is the gravitational
force between the spheres, find the speed of the spheres when
they collide into each other. [Density of lead = 11.3 𝑔𝑐𝑚 −3 ]

(b) What is the gravitational potential energy of the

spaceship at C?
 Question 16

(c) Find the work done to bring the spaceship from 𝐶 to 𝐷

where 𝐷 is the midpoint of 𝐴𝐵.

Use the data shown in the figure above to estimate the

resultant gravitational field strength & the position of the
Moon. [Mass of Earth = 6.0 x 1024 𝑘𝑔, mass of Sun =
2.0 x 1030 𝑘𝑔, 𝐺 = 6.67 x 10−11 𝑁 𝑚 2 𝑘𝑔−2 ]

Question 15

The mass of a planet is 5.0 x 1024 𝑘𝑔 and its radius is

6.0 x 108 𝑚. What is the energy required to bring a mass of
2.0 𝑘𝑔 from the surface of the planet to outer space?
Question 17 Question 18

A car of mass 𝑚 is moving along a sideways slope with A body A body is released from rest from a height 2𝑅 from the
of mass 𝑚 at the surface of the Earth is brought to a point a surface of the Earth (𝑅 = radius of the Earth).
distance 2𝑅 (𝑅 = radius of the Earth) from the centre of the Derive a formula for the speed of the body when it reaches
Earth. the Earth's surface in terms of 𝑅, mass of the Earth, 𝑀 and
the universal gravitational constant, 𝐺.
(a) Express in terms of 𝑀, the mass of the Earth, 𝑅 and 𝐺, the
universal gravitational constant.
(i) the gravitational potential

(ii) the gravitational potential energy of the body at a

distance 2𝑅 from the centre of the Earth.

Question 19
(a) Write the formula for the gravitational potential energy
of a mass 𝑚 on the surface of the Earth in terms of 𝑅 the
radius of the Earth, 𝑀 the mass of the Earth and 𝐺 the
universe gravitational constant.

(b) Find the change in the gravitational potential energy of the

body. Has the gravitational potential energy of the body
increased or decreased?

(b) Hence deduce a formula for the speed 𝑣 of a meteorite

when it strikes the surface of the Earth.
 Question 20 Question 21

The figure below is the graph of gravitational potential 𝑉 A body of mass 𝑚 is at a height ℎ above the surface of the
against the distance 𝑥 from the surface of a planet of radius ℎ
Earth of mass 𝑀 and radius 𝑅. If ℎ ≤ 𝑅 such that term (𝑅)
5.2 x 106 𝑚.
of power greater than one can be neglected, derive an
expression for the gravitational potential energy 𝑉 of the
body in terms of m, ℎ, 𝑀, 𝑅 and 𝐺, the universal gravitational
constant.

(a) Calculate
(i) the mass of the planet

Question 22
(ii) the energy required to launch a rocket of mass 500 𝑘𝑔
The radius of Mars is 3.4 x 106 𝑚, and the acceleration due
to a height of 600 𝑘𝑚.
to gravity on the surface of Mars is 3.70 𝑚𝑠 −2 . Calculate
(a) the mass of Mars

(b) the mean density of Mars

(b) If the rocket is launched with the energy you calculated in

(𝑎)(𝑖𝑖) above, what is the speed of the rocket at a height
of 200 𝑘𝑚?

(c) the gravitational potential on the surface of Mars.

Question 23
The Earth moves around the Sun in a circular orbit of radius (c) the total energy
1.5 x 1011 𝑚 with a period of 3.2 x 107 𝑠. The Moon moves of the Moon in its orbit.
around the Earth in a circular orbit of radius 3.8 x 108 𝑚 with
a period of 2.4 x 106 𝑠. Find the ratio of the mass of the Sun
to the mass of the Earth.

Question 25

The figure below shows the elliptical orbit of a planet round

the Sun.

Mark on the figure,

(a) the point 𝑋 where the speed of the planet is greatest
(b) the point 𝑌 where the speed of the planet is smallest

Question 26

The orbits of the Earth and Venus are essentially circular. If

the radius of Venus’ orbit is 0.723 times the radius of the
Question 24 Earth’s, calculate the period of orbit of Venus round the Sun.

The Moon takes 27 days to go round the Earth in an orbit of

radius 3.8 x 108 𝑚. The mass, the Earth is 6.0 x 1024 𝑘𝑔, and
that of the Moon is 7.4 x 1022 𝑘𝑔. Calculate
(a) the gravitational potential energy

(b) the kinetic energy

Question 27
The escape velocity from the Earth is 11 𝑘𝑚 𝑠 −1. Estimate
(a) What is the gravitational potential energy of a helium atom the escape velocity from the Sun and from the Moon.
on the surface of the Sun?

(b) Calculate the escape velocity from the surface of the Sun.
[Mass of a helium atom = 6.6 x 10−27 𝑘𝑔, radius of the
Sun = 7.0 x 108 𝑚, mass of the Sun = 2.0 x 1030 𝑘𝑔]

Question 29
Derive a formula for the escape velocity 𝑣𝑒 from the Earth in
terms of its diameter 𝑑 and 𝑔, the acceleration due to gravity.

Question 28

The table below shows the values for radius 𝑅 and mass 𝑀 of
the Sun, Earth and Moon.