AP Physics (k12): Unit 8 - Gravitation
Which of these does Newton's law of universal gravitation imply?
Earth's gravity acts on people inside a space station orbiting the earth.
If you plotted vector arrows at selected points around a mass to represent the gravitational field vectors, how should the arrows change as the points for which they are drawn become more distant from the mass that produces the field?
The arrows would become shorter.
Which of these discoveries is generally attributed to Newton?
The force of gravity acts between any two objects.
Which of these discoveries is generally attributed to Kepler?
The orbit of Mars is an ellipse.
Which of the following terms is associated with Einstein?
special relativity
A 60.0 kg student is standing on the pavement outside. To use Newton's law of universal gravitation to find the weight of the student, you should calculate the weight as the force of attraction between the student and what?
the entire earth, located one earth radius away
Which of these best describes earth's gravitational field?
the property at each point of space that describes the force a mass would experience
The centers of two 15.0 kg spheres are separated by 3.00 m. The magnitude of the gravitational force between the two spheres is approximately what?
1.67 × 10^-9 N
A satellite is in geosynchronous orbit around earth, so that it stays above the same point on earth and has a period of exactly one day. Another satellite orbits earth at a distance twice as far from earth's center. What is the period of the second satellite? Assume the radius of earth is 6,378 km and the mass of each satellite is 200 kg.
2.8 days
An astronaut weighs 800 N on the surface of earth. What is the weight of the astronaut 6.37 × 106 m above the surface of the earth? Assume the radius of earth is 6,378 km.
200N
A mass of 10.2 kg is in a gravitational field of 3.30 m/s 2. What force acts on the mass?
33.7 N
What is "universal" about Newton's law of universal gravitation?
Applies to any two objects at any location
What causes gravity, according to Einstein's theory of general relativity?
mass bending space and time
Which of these is not evidence confirming Einstein's explanation of gravity?
Newton's third law of motion
What is gravity?
a force between objects because of their mass
