Name: 
 

Physics 12 - Chapter 6 Quiz


True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.
 

1. 
At a particular location, the gravitational field around a celestial body depends only on the mass of the body.
 

2. 
If both the radius and mass of a planet were to double, the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at its surface would become half as great.
 

3. 
The speed of a satellite in a stable circular orbit around Earth is independent of the mass of the satellite.
 

4. 
In the Sun’s frame of reference, the Moon’s orbit around Earth appears as an epicycle.
 

5. 
In a typical high-school physics investigation, the “Evidence” is to the “Analysis” as Kepler’s work was to Tycho Brahe’s work.
 

6. 
In Figure 1, where the path distances d1 and d2 are equal, the speeds along those path segments are equal.
p12ch6_files/i0070000.jpg
Figure 1
 

7. 
When calculating Kepler’s third-law constant for Earth, the value is larger for the Moon than for an Earth-bound satellite because the Moon is much farther away.
 

8. 
The gravitational potential energy of the Earth-Moon system is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the centres of the two bodies.
 

9. 
As a space probe travels away from Earth, its change in gravitational potential energy is positive, even though its gravitational potential energy is negative.
 

10. 
As you are working on this problem, your escape energy is greater than your binding energy.
 

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
For questions 11 to 19, refer to Figure 2.
p12ch6_files/i0130000.jpg
Figure 2
The first variable named in each of questions 11 to 19 corresponds to the y-variable on one of these graphs; the second variable named corresponds to the x-variable.
 

11. 
The y-variable is the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at a point above a planet’s surface; x is the planet’s mass.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

12. 
The y-variable is the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at a point above a planet’s surface; x is the distance to the centre of the planet.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

13. 
The y-variable is the speed of a satellite in a stable circular orbit around a planet; x is the mass of the planet.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

14. 
The y-variable is the speed of a satellite in a stable circular orbit around a planet; x is the distance to the centre of the planet.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

15. 
The y-variable is the area swept out by a line joining a planet to the Sun; x is the time interval during which that line is swept out.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

16. 
The y-variable is the average radius of a planet’s orbit; x is the period of revolution of the planet’s motion around the Sun.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

17. 
The y-variable is the cube of the average radius of a planet’s orbit; x is the square of the period of revolution of the planet’s motion around the Sun.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

18. 
The y-variable is the kinetic energy of a space probe that was given enough energy to escape Earth’s gravitational field; x is the distance from Earth’s centre.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

19. 
The y-variable is the gravitational potential energy of a space probe that was given enough energy to escape Earth’s gravitational field; x is the distance from Earth’s centre.
a.
a
b.
b
c.
c
d.
d
e.
e
 

20. 
The law that allows us to determine Earth’s mass is
a.
Kepler’s first law of planetary motion
b.
Kepler’s second law of planetary motion
c.
Kepler’s third law of planetary motion
d.
Newton’s law of universal gravitation
e.
Newton’s second law of motion
 

21. 
If the distance between a spacecraft and Saturn increases by a factor of three, the magnitude of Saturn’s gravitational field strength at the position of the spacecraft
a.
decreases by a factor of p12ch6_files/i0240000.jpg
b.
increases by a factor of p12ch6_files/i0240001.jpg
c.
decreases by a factor of 9
d.
increases by a factor of 9
e.
decreases by a factor of 3
 

22. 
Satellite S1 is moving around Earth in a circular orbit of radius four times as large as the radius of the orbit of satellite S2. The speed of S1, v1, in terms of v2 equals
a.
16v2
b.
v2
c.
2v2
d.
0.5v2
e.
none of these
 

23. 
If the mass of the Sun were to become half its current value, with Earth maintaining its same orbit, the time interval of one Earth year would
a.
remain the same
b.
decrease by a factor of p12ch6_files/i0260000.jpg
c.
increase by a factor of p12ch6_files/i0260001.jpg
d.
increase by a factor of 2
e.
decrease by a factor of 2
 

24. 
A satellite in geosynchronous orbit has a period of revolution of
a.
1.5 h
b.
1.0 h
c.
24 h
d.
365.26 d
e.
none of these
 

25. 
Figure 3 shows the path of a comet around the Sun. The speeds at the four positions shown are vA, vB, vC, and vD. Which statement is true?

p12ch6_files/i0280000.jpg
Figure 3
a.
vA > vB = vD > vC
b.
vA < vB = vD < vC
c.
vA > vB > vC > vD
d.
vA < vB < vC < vD
e.
none of these
 

26. 
A certain planet has Earth’s mass, but only one-quarter its diameter. The escape speed from this planet in terms of Earth’s escape speed vE is
a.
vE
b.
p12ch6_files/i0290000.jpgvE
c.
p12ch6_files/i0290001.jpgvE
d.
4vE
e.
2vE
 



 
Check Your Work     Reset Help