SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

LECTURE NOTES

IB PHYSICS
D.1 Gravitational
Fields

Name:
Class:

12 th Number:

GRADE
Table of Contents
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion........................................................................................ 2
Kepler’s first law................................................................................................................. 3
Kepler’s second law........................................................................................................... 3
Kepler’s third law................................................................................................................ 4
Nature of Science...............................................................................................................5
Newton’s universal law of gravitation.................................................................................. 5
Circular orbits with Gravitational Force Providing the Centripetal Force............................6
Gravitational Field Strength................................................................................................7
TOK Reference.............................................................................................................7
Combining gravitational field strengths........................................................................ 9
Nature of Science: Use of Satellites...........................................................................10
Gravitational potential energy.............................................................................................11
Equation for gravitational potential energy....................................................................... 12
Gravitational potential......................................................................................................... 13
Equipotential surfaces................................................................................................ 15
Gravitational potential difference................................................................................ 17
Gravitational potential–distance graphs..................................................................... 18
Speeds and energies of satellites.................................................................................... 19
Escape Velocity.......................................................................................................... 19
Potential, Kinetic and Total Energy of a Satellite in Orbit........................................... 20
Changing orbits of satellites....................................................................................... 22
Past IB Questionss.............................................................................................................. 23
D.1 Gravitational Fields
Guiding Questions:

● How are the properties of a gravitational field quantified?

● How does an understanding of gravitational fields allow for humans to explore the
Solar System?

Objects falling to the ground is a common observation, but it wasn’t explained until Isaac
Newton’s work in the 17th century. Before that, people believed in Aristotle’s idea that things
returned to their “natural” place. Understanding gravity required accurate observations, like
those made by Tycho Brahe in the 16th century. His measurements lacked explanation, but
Johannes Kepler used them to create his three laws of planetary motion, a key advance in
astronomy.

Kepler’s laws of planetary motion

Kepler’s laws were developed to describe the motions of the planets in the Solar System, but
they can be applied to any group of bodies orbiting a common centre under the effects of
gravity.

Kepler’s laws were empirical (based on observations) and it was not until 70 years later that
Newton was able to provide the underlying explanation.

2
Kepler’s first law

Kepler’s second law

Kepler’s second law expresses the fact that planets move faster when they are closer to the
Sun.

3
Kepler’s third law
The mathematical proof of Keple’s Third law will be discussed later. It relates the orbital
period of the planet around the sun and average distance between the sun and the planet.

The Earth has an average distance from the Sun of 1.50 × 1011 m. (This is often called one
astronomical unit, 1 AU.)

a) You can identify the comet by its highly

elliptical orbit, while the planet follows a more
circular path around the Sun.
b)

• i) The comet travels fastest when it is

closest to the Sun, a point called
perihelion.

• ii) The comet travels slowest when it

is farthest from the Sun, a point called
aphelion.

4
Nature of Science
Isaac Newton’s law of gravitation is key to understanding astronomy, and he famously
said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Key figures before
Newton include:

• Copernicus (1473–1543): Proposed the heliocentric model, where the Sun, not
the Earth, is the center of the universe, challenging long-held beliefs.

• Giordano Bruno (1548–1600): Expanded on this idea, suggesting the universe is

infinite and the Sun is like other stars. He was executed for these views.

• Galileo Galilei (1564–1642): Used a telescope to support the heliocentric model

and was tried for heresy.

• Islamic Golden Age astronomers like Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi made accurate
observations of stars, building on earlier work like Ptolemy’s.
These predecessors laid the groundwork for Newton’s breakthroughs.

Newton’s universal law of gravitation

Isaac Newton was the first to realize that gravity not only makes objects fall to Earth but also
keeps the Moon in orbit. He concluded that gravity acts between all masses, which is why
it’s called universal gravitation. The force increases with larger masses and decreases as
the distance between them grows, following an inverse square law.

5
Note: Newton’s Law of gravity applies to point masses. Of course planets and stars are not
point-like objects. However distance between them makes it possible to assume their size is
negligible when compared to separation between them.

Circular orbits with Gravitational Force Providing the Centripetal

Force

Figure 17.6

2𝜋𝑟
We know that speed of an object in uniform circular motion can be written as 𝑣 = 𝑇
Then we can write,

2𝜋𝑟 𝐺𝑀
𝑇
= 𝑟
By solving the equation we obtain,

or

This is a mathematical expression of Kepler’s 3rd law and states that for all planets around
the sun the ratio of cube of their orbital radius to square of orbital period is the same.

6
Gravitational Field Strength

g: symbol
N/kg: Unit

Gravitational Field Strength Around A Planet

Example: The gravitational field strength on the surface of a planet is g. A satellite orbits the
planet at a height from the surface equal to the radius of the planet.
What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the satellite?
Solution: r= 2R so gravitational field above the surface at a height of 2R is ¼ g.

TOK Reference
Where did the law of gravitation come from? Not just from Newton's great intuition but
also from the knowledge obtained earlier by Kepler, that planets move around the sun with a
period that is proportional to 3/2 power of the average orbit radius. To get such a law, the
force of gravitation had to be an inverse square law.

7
Gravitational fields can be shown using field lines, with arrows indicating the direction of the
gravitational force on a mass. In Figure D1.13a, the lines spread out from the Earth, getting
closer near the surface, which shows the field is stronger. Field lines never cross, as this would
mean forces are acting in two directions at once.

The parallel lines in Figure D1.13b show a uniform gravitational field, like in a small area on
Earth’s surface where the field is nearly constant, such as in the room you’re in.

8
Combining gravitational field strengths
Since the gravitational field is a vector quantity, the total gravitational field created at a point
in space must be determined by considering all massive objects creating gravitational field at
that point. Net gravitational field of the point is the vector sum of all individual gravitational
field strengths created by the objects.

Example:

Hint: Draw vectors representing gravitational fields created by each mass at points P and Q.

9
Nature of Science: Use of Satellites

Polar orbits

Many satellites have orbits that pass approximately over both poles of the Earth at heights of
up to about 2000 km (Figure D1.21). The Polar orbits remain in the same plane as the Earth
rotates, so that the satellite passes over different parts of the planet on each orbit. These
satellites make many orbits every day.

​
Figure D1.21
Geostationary orbits
A geostationary satellite is one that appears to remain in the same position as seen by an
observer on the Earth’s surface. This is only possible if the period of the satellite is the same
as the period of rotation of the Earth (23 h 56 min).
Any satellite at this height will have the same period as the rotation of the Earth and they are
described as geosynchronous. However, to be geostationary the satellites must be made to
orbit in the same plane as the equator. Both orbits shown in Figure D1.22 are
geosynchronous, but only the orbit in a is geostationary.

10
Gravitational potential energy
We learnt that change in gravitational potential energy of an object in a uniform gravitational
field is given as ΔEp = mgΔh. But can we use this equation when g changes significantly
between two positions in space?

11
 Figure D1.23 shows the variation of
gravitational force acting on 1 kg mass with
distance from the center of earth. Since we
can calculate the work done by a variable
force by computing the area under the
graph of force against position, the shaded
area of the graph represents the work done
on an object when released from a distance
as it moves towards the earth.

Equation for gravitational potential energy

The derivation of this equation requires calculus which is outside the syllabus of IB Physics
course.

12
Example: Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a 200 kg satellite orbiting at a height
of 150 km above the surface of the planet Mars.
23
The mass of Mars = 6. 0 ×10 𝑘𝑔
6
radius of Mars =3. 4 ×10 𝑚

!! Importance of negative sign of gravitational potential energy

The negative sign in gravitational potential energy shows that gravity is attractive, and
energy is needed to separate two masses, similar to how electrons are bound to a nucleus.
In both cases, energy must be added to overcome the attraction, making the potential
energy zero when fully separated.

Gravitational potential
Gravitational potential is used to describe the space around massive objects like planets and
stars. It helps answer questions like, “How much energy is needed to place a 1kg mass at a
specific location?” rather than focusing on a particular mass at a particular place.

13
Example:

14
Example:

Equipotential surfaces

Figure D1.28 shows typical equipotential

lines around a spherical or point mass, M.
The circular lines are drawn with equal
numerical intervals of potential, which
means that they must get further and further
apart. In other words, increasing separation
of equipotential lines indicates a weakening
gravitational field.

All equipotential lines form closed loops. A

satellite of mass m, placed anywhere on
any particular equipotential (the red line, for
example), will have the same gravitational
potential energy. Moving from any one
location to any other on the same
equipotential line, by any path, requires
zero net energy input.

Equipotential lines and gravitational field lines (as seen in Figure D1.13) can both be used to
provide visualizations of the same gravitational field. Figure D1.30 shows their simple
relationship:

15
Gravitational potential is a scalar quantity. This means that, if there are two (or more) large
masses creating significant fields, we can determine the potential at any point by simple
addition. Figure D1.31 shows an example: the potentials in the Earth–Moon system. The
blue line represents the combined potential of the system.

Example: Discuss the significance of point P at which slope of the V-r graph is zero
Answer: Gravitational field is zero.

16
Gravitational potential difference

Work has to be done on a mass to increase its gravitational potential energy; that is to move
it to a greater potential. (For example, away from a planet to a location where the potential
has a lesser negative value.) Then W will have a positive value. The mass does the work
when it moves to a lesser potential, and W will have a negative value. For example, when a
mass falls towards the Earth, gravitational potential energy will be transferred from the mass
to kinetic energy.

17
Gravitational potential–distance graphs

Figure D1.34 shows the variation of

gravitational potential around a spherical
planet. We can use the gradient of the
graph at any point to determine the strength
of the gravitational field, g

18
Speeds and energies of satellites

Escape Velocity

An object can theoretically be projected upward in such a way that it continues moving away
from Earth indefinitely. To achieve this, it must be given a very high speed, known as escape
velocity. Ignoring air resistance, the minimum speed required for an object of mass m to
escape a planet of mass M can be calculated using energy considerations. This speed is
called escape velocity,

19
Potential, Kinetic and Total Energy of a Satellite in Orbit
Once a satellite is in orbit,

A satellite in a circular orbit does not have

enough energy to escape the gravitational
field, so that both its potential energy and its
total energy are negative. Figure D1.39
shows these relationships graphically.

20
Changing orbits of satellites

21
D1 [145 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 7]
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]

([Link]) Determine the height of the satellite above the Earth’s surface. [2]

(c) The atmosphere exerts a small viscous drag force on the

satellite.

Outline how the total energy, kinetic energy, and gravitational

potential energy change for the satellite during one orbit
around Earth.
 [3]

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]

([Link]) 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: 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 [3]
of Pluto and travelling to the west.

6. [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]

([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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.

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. [2]

7. [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]

([Link]) 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]
 ([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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]

8. [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

(a) Determine
gM
. [2]
gP

(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]

([Link]) Outline why the graph between P and O is negative. [2]

([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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]
9. [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]

([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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]

10. [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]

([Link]) 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]

11. [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]

([Link]) Estimate the escape speed of the spacecraft from the planet–
star system. [2]

12. [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]

([Link]) 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]

([Link]) 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.

Determine, using the graph, the mass of the Moon. [3]

13. [Maximum mark: 1]

Planets X and Y orbit the same star.

The average distance between planet X and the star is five times
greater than the average distance between planet Y and the star.

orbital period of planet X

What is orbital period of planet Y
?

A.
3
√5
 B. √5

C.
3
√5 2

D. √5 3 [1]

14. [Maximum mark: 1]

A planet orbits the Sun in an elliptical orbit moving in the direction
shown.

At the position shown, which quantity is decreasing for the planet?

A. Acceleration

B. Angular momentum

C. Kinetic energy

D. Gravitational potential energy [1]

15. [Maximum mark: 1]

Planets X and Y orbit the same star.

The average distance between planet X and the star is five times
greater than the average distance between planet Y and the star.
 orbital period of planet X
What is orbital period of planet Y
?

A.
3
√5

B. √5

C.
3
√5 2

D. √5 3 [1]

16. [Maximum mark: 1]

A spherical planet has a radius R0.

The graph shows the variation of the gravitational potential due to the
planet with distance r from the centre of the planet.

What is the escape speed from the surface of the planet?

A. 1.6 × 103 m s−1

 B. 2.2 × 103 m s−1

C. 3.2 × 103 m s−1

D. 4.5 × 103 m s−1 [1]

17. [Maximum mark: 1]

Planets X and Y move in circular orbits around the same star.

The orbital period of planet Y is twice the orbital period of planet X. The
orbital radius of planet X is R.

What is the orbital radius of planet Y?

A.
3
√ 2R

B.
3
√ 4R

C. 2R

D. 4R [1]

18. [Maximum mark: 1]

Kepler’s Third law relates the orbital period T of a planet about its sun
to its orbital radius r. The mass of the Sun is M .

What is a correct algebraic form of the law?

2πr
1.5

A. T = 0.5
(GM )

1.5
2πr
B. T =
GM
 4πr
0.67

C. T = 2
(GM )

4πr
0.67 [1]
D. T =
GM

19. [Maximum mark: 1]

A space probe moves in a circular orbit around Earth. The kinetic
energy of the probe is E .

The probe will reach the escape speed when its kinetic energy is
increased at least to:

A. √ 2E

B. 2E

C. 2√ 2E

D. 4E [1]

20. [Maximum mark: 1]

What is the escape speed from the surface of a planet of radius r that
has an acceleration of gravity g at its surface?

g
A. √
r

B. √ gr

2g
C. √
r

D. √ 2gr [1]
21. [Maximum mark: 1]
The mass of a planet X is 300 times larger than the mass of the Earth
and its radius is 10 times larger than the radius of the Earth. What is the
gravitational field strength on the surface of planet X in terms of the
gravitational field strength g on the surface of Earth?
g
A. 30

g
B. 3

C. 3g

D. 30 g

[1]

22. [Maximum mark: 1]

The mass of a planet X is 300 times larger than the mass of the Earth
and its radius is 10 times larger than the radius of the Earth. What is the
gravitational field strength on the surface of planet X in terms of the
gravitational field strength g on the surface of Earth?
g
A. 30

g
B. 3

C. 3g

D. 30 g

[1]

23. [Maximum mark: 1]

 The mass of a planet X is 300 times larger than the mass of the Earth
and its radius is 10 times larger than the radius of the Earth. What is the
gravitational field strength on the surface of planet X in terms of the
gravitational field strength g on the surface of Earth?
g
A. 30

g
B. 3

C. 3g

D. 30 g

[1]

24. [Maximum mark: 1]

A satellite of mass m is in orbit around a planet of radius R and mass
M . The total energy of the satellite is − .
GM m

4R

What is the radius of the orbit?

A. R

4R
B. 3

C. 2R

D.
8R

3
[1]

25. [Maximum mark: 1]

The mass of a planet X is 300 times larger than the mass of the Earth
and its radius is 10 times larger than the radius of the Earth. What is the
gravitational field strength on the surface of planet X in terms of the
gravitational field strength g on the surface of Earth?
 g
A. 30

g
B. 3

C. 3g

D. 30 g

[1]

26. [Maximum mark: 1]

A satellite of mass m is in orbit around a planet of radius R and mass
M . The total energy of the satellite is − .
GM m

4R

What is the radius of the orbit?

A. R

4R
B. 3

C. 2R

D.
8R

3
[1]

27. [Maximum mark: 1]

The radius of the Earth is R. A satellite is launched to a height h =
R

above the Earth’s surface.

gravitational f orce on satellite at the surf ace

What is gravitational f orce on satellite at height h
?

A. 4

B. 16

25
 C. 25

16

D. 5 [1]
4

28. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two isolated point masses, P of mass m and Q of mass 2m, are separated
by a distance 3d. X is a point a distance d from P and 2d from Q.

What is the net gravitational field strength at X and the net

gravitational potential at X?

Net gravitational field Net gravitational

strength at X potential at X
A. Gm
2
0
d

B. Gm
2
−
Gm

d d

C. Gm
2
0
2d

D. Gm
2
−
2Gm

2d d

[1]

29. [Maximum mark: 1]

The escape speed from the surface of earth is vesc. The radius of earth is
R
R. A satellite of mass m is in orbit at a height 4 above the surface of the
Earth. What is the energy required to move the satellite to infinity?
 2
mv
A. 5
esc

2
2mv
B. 5
esc

C. mv
2
esc
[1]
D. 2mv
2
esc

30. [Maximum mark: 1]

The mass of Mars is about ten times that of the Moon. The radius of
Mars is about twice that of the Moon.

escape speed f rom Mars

What is the Moon
?

A. √5

B. 2√5

C. 5

D. 25 [1]

31. [Maximum mark: 1]

The centre of the Earth and the Moon are a distance D apart. There is a
point X between them where their gravitational fields cancel out. The
distance from the centre of the Earth to X is d. The mass of the Earth is
ME and the mass of the Moon is M M .
 What is correct at X?

ME MM
A. d
=
D−d

ME MM
B. D−d
=
d
[1]

ME MM
C. d
2
= 2
(D−d)

ME MM
D. d
2
= 2
D −d
2

32. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two satellites are in circular orbits around the Earth. Both satellites
have the same mass and satellite X is closer to Earth than satellite Y.

What is correct for the orbital periods of X and Y and the total energies
of X and Y?

[1]
33. [Maximum mark: 1]
P and Q are two moons of equal densities orbiting a planet. The orbital
radius of P is twice the orbital radius of Q. The volume of P is half that of
Q. The force exerted by the planet on P is F. What is the force exerted by
the planet on Q?

A. F

B. 2F

C. 4F

D. 8F [1]

34. [Maximum mark: 1]

An astronaut is orbiting Earth in a spaceship. Why does the astronaut
experience weightlessness?

A. The astronaut is outside the gravitational field of Earth.

B. The acceleration of the astronaut is the same as the acceleration of

the spaceship.

C. The spaceship is travelling at a high speed tangentially to the orbit.

D. The gravitational field is zero at that point. [1]

35. [Maximum mark: 1]

A simple pendulum has a time period T on the Earth. The pendulum is
taken to the Moon where the gravitational field strength is 1

6
that of
the Earth.

What is the time period of the pendulum on the Moon?

A. T √6
 B. T

√6
C. 6
T

T
D. 6 [1]

36. [Maximum mark: 1]

A satellite is orbiting Earth in a circular path at constant speed. Three
statements about the resultant force on the satellite are:

I. It is equal to the gravitational force of attraction on the satellite.

II. It is equal to the mass of the satellite multiplied by its acceleration.
III. It is equal to the centripetal force on the satellite.

Which combination of statements is correct?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

37. [Maximum mark: 1]

An object of mass m is launched from the surface of the Earth. The
Earth has a mass M and radius r. The acceleration due to gravity at the
surface of the Earth is g. What is the escape speed of the object from
the surface of the Earth?

A. √ gr

B. √ 2gr
 C. √ 2M gr

[1]
D. √ 2mgr

38. [Maximum mark: 1]

Three statements about Newton’s law of gravitation are:

I. It can be used to predict the motion of a satellite.

II. It explains why gravity exists.
III. It is used to derive the expression for gravitational potential energy.

Which combination of statements is correct?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

39. [Maximum mark: 1]

The gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet of radius R is g.
A satellite is moving in a circular orbit a distance R above the surface of
the planet. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the satellite?

A. 0

g
B. 4

g
C. 2

D. g [1]
40. [Maximum mark: 1]
A satellite of mass m orbits a planet of mass M in a circular orbit of
radius r. What is the work that must be done on the satellite to increase
its orbital radius to 2r?

A.
GM m

B.
GM m

2r

C.
GM m

4r

D.
GM m

8r
[1]

41. [Maximum mark: 1]

Which is the definition of gravitational field strength at a point?

A. The sum of the gravitational fields created by all masses around the
point

B. The gravitational force per unit mass experienced by a small point

mass at that point

M
C. G r , where M is the mass of a planet and r is the distance from
2

the planet to the point

D. The resultant force of gravitational attraction on a mass at that point [1]

42. [Maximum mark: 1]

An object of mass m released from rest near the surface of a planet has
an initial acceleration z. What is the gravitational field strength near
the surface of the planet?
 A. z

B.
z

C. mz

D. m [1]
z

43. [Maximum mark: 1]

Which is a correct unit for gravitational potential?

A. m2 s−2

B. J kg

C. m s−2

D. N m−1 kg−1 [1]

44. [Maximum mark: 1]

A planet has radius R. The escape speed from the surface of the planet is
v. At what distance from the surface of the planet is the orbital speed
0.5v?

A. 0.5R

B. R

C. 2R

D. 4R [1]

45. [Maximum mark: 1]

 A satellite orbits planet X with a speed v X at a distance r from the
centre of planet X. Another satellite orbits planet Y at a speed of v y at
a distance r from the centre of planet Y. The mass of planet X is M
vX
and the mass of planet Y is 4M . What is the ratio of vy
?

A. 0.25

B. 0.5

C. 2.0

D. 4.0 [1]

46. [Maximum mark: 1]

−1
Planet X has a gravitational field strength of 18 N kg at its surface.
Planet Y has the same density as X but three times the radius of X. What
is the gravitational field strength at the surface of Y?

A. 6ms
−2

B. 18 m s
−2

C. 54 m s
−2

D. 162 m s
−2
[1]

47. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two satellites W and X have the same mass. They have circular orbits
around the same planet. W is closer to the surface than X. What
quantity is smaller for W than for X?

A. Gravitational force from the planet

B. Angular velocity
 C. Orbital speed

D. Orbital period [1]

48. [Maximum mark: 1]

P and S are two points on a gravitational equipotential surface around
a planet. Q and R are two points on a different gravitational
equipotential surface at a greater distance from the planet.

The greatest work done by the gravitational force is when moving a

mass from

A. P to S.

B. Q to R.

C. R to P.

D. S to R. [1]
49. [Maximum mark: 1]
A negatively charged particle in a uniform gravitational field is
positioned mid-way between two charged conducting plates.

The potential difference between the plates is adjusted until the

particle is held at rest relative to the plates.

What change will cause the particle to accelerate downwards relative

to the plates?

A. Decreasing the charge on the particle

B. Decreasing the separation of the plates

C. Increasing the length of the plates

D. Increasing the potential difference between the plates [1]

50. [Maximum mark: 1]

A satellite travels around the Earth in a circular orbit. What is true about
the forces acting in this situation?

A. The resultant force is the same direction as the satellite’s

acceleration.

B. The gravitational force acting on the satellite is negligible.

 C. There is no resultant force on the satellite relative to the Earth.
[1]
D. The satellite does not exert any force on the Earth.

51. [Maximum mark: 1]

The gravitational potential is V at a distance R above the surface of a
spherical planet of radius R and uniform density. What is the
gravitational potential a distance 2R above the surface of the planet?

A. V

B. 4V

C.
V

D. [1]
2V

52. [Maximum mark: 1]

Satellite X orbits a planet with orbital radius R. Satellite Y orbits the
same planet with orbital radius 2R. Satellites X and Y have the same
mass.

centripetal acceleration of X
What is the ratio centripetal acceleration of Y
?

A. 1

1
B. 2

C. 2

D. 4 [1]
53. [Maximum mark: 1]
Which graph shows the relationship between gravitational force F
between two point masses and their separation r?

[1]

54. [Maximum mark: 1]

A satellite in a circular orbit around the Earth needs to reduce its orbital
radius.

What is the work done by the satellite rocket engine and the change in
kinetic energy resulting from this shift in orbital height?

[1]
55. [Maximum mark: 1]
Satellite X is in orbit around the Earth. An identical satellite Y is in a
higher orbit. What is correct for the total energy and the kinetic energy
of the satellite Y compared with satellite X?

[1]

56. [Maximum mark: 1]

The escape speed from a planet of radius R is vesc. A satellite orbits the
planet at a distance R from the surface of the planet. What is the orbital
speed of the satellite?

A.
1
v esc
2

√2
B. 2
v esc

C. √2v esc

D. 2v esc [1]

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2024