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Orbits of Planets & Satellites (AQA A Level Physics): Exam Questions

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11 mark

The gravitational force, F subscript G , keeps the Earth in a (near) circular orbit around the Sun, as shown in the diagram below.

7-3-mcq-q1-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

What type of force is responsible for keeping the Earth in a circular orbit? 

  • A contact force

  • A centrifugal force

  • An electrostatic force

  • A centripetal force

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21 mark

The Hubble telescope orbits Earth at a blistering speed of about 7600 m s–1. 

The radius of its orbit is about 7000 km, as shown in the figure below:

7-3-mcq-q2-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

How long does it take the Hubble telescope to complete one full orbit of Earth?

  • 1.6 hours

  • 5800 hours

  • 96 hours

  • 24 hours

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31 mark

What is a correct expression for the total energy of an object in orbit?

  • Total energy = Kinetic energy

  • Total energy = Kinetic energy + Potential energy

  • Total energy = Potential energy 

  • Total energy = Potential energy + Thermal energy

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41 mark

Which sentence best describes the relationship between the time period T of an object in a circular orbit and the orbital radius r?

  • The time period T is equal to the orbital radius r 

  • The time period T is inversely proportional to the radius r of the orbit

  • The square of the time period T2 is proportional to the cube of the radius r3 

  • The time period T is double the orbital radius r

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51 mark

Which of the following statements about satellites in geostationary orbits is correct?

  • Satellites in geostationary orbits stay above the poles of Earth

  • Satellites in geostationary orbit appear to move across the sky

  • The orbital period of a satellite in geostationary orbit is 24 hours

  • Satellites in geostationary orbits move from east to west

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11 mark

A comet of mass m is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth, as shown in the figure below:

7-3-mcq-q1-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

It is moving at a speed v when it is at a distance r from the Earth. The mass of the Earth is M. 

What is the total energy of the comet at P?

  • 1 half m v squared plus fraction numerator G M m over denominator r end fraction

  • negative fraction numerator G M over denominator r end fraction plus 1 half m v squared

  • negative fraction numerator G M m over denominator r end fraction

  • negative fraction numerator G M m over denominator r end fraction plus 1 half m v squared

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21 mark

Planet X and Planet Y exist in a galaxy far, far away. 

The escape velocity from the surface of planet X is about 10.0 km s–1. The ratio of the mass of planet Y to the mass of planet X is begin mathsize 16px style 1 over 81 end style and the ratio of the radius of planet Y to the radius of planet X is begin mathsize 16px style 1 over 9 end style. 

What is the best estimate for the escape velocity from the surface of the planet Y?

  • 3.3 km s–1

  • 1.1 km s–1

  • 30 km s–1

  • 5.0 km s–1

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31 mark

A satellite in a stable circular orbit around the Earth is moved to a higher stable circular orbit. 

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  • The angular speed of the satellite decreases

  • The gravitational potential energy of the satellite increases

  • The linear orbital speed of the satellite increases

  • The gravitational force on the satellite decreases

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41 mark

A satellite of mass m is placed in a geostationary orbit. 

If the Earth’s angular velocity is 7.0 × 10–5 rad s–1, what is the circumference of the satellite’s orbit?

  • 4.0 × 109 m 

  • 2.9 × 1011 m

  • 1.8 × 106 m 

  • 2.7 × 108 m

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51 mark

Two spherical moons have masses M and 5M and radii r subscript 1 and r subscript 2 respectively. The escape velocity at the surface of planet with mass M is 0.5 × 104 m s–1 and the escape velocity at the surface of the other planet with mass 5M is 2 × 10­4 m s–1. 

What is the ratio r subscript 2 over r subscript 1 ?

  • 5 over 4

  • 5 over 16

  • 3 over 9

  • 3 over 81

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11 mark

How long would the length of one Earth-day be, if the planet were to rotate so rapidly that material at its equator only just remains on the surface?

  • 1.4 hours

  • 6.3 hours

  • 10.2 hours

  • 18.1 hours

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21 mark

A space probe is launched from the surface of the Earth’s equator into orbit. 

The total energy E given to the space probe of mass m is: 

            E = fraction numerator 3 G M m over denominator 4 R subscript E end fraction

where G is the gravitational constant and M and R subscript E are the mass and radius of Earth, respectively. 

What is the height of the space probe’s orbit above the Earth’s surface?

  • R subscript E

  • 2 R subscript E

  • 3 R subscript E

  • 4 R subscript E

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31 mark

Which of the following statements about objects in orbits is correct?

  • The total energy of an object in orbit is positive

  • The total energy of a comet when it is closest to the sun is equal to begin mathsize 16px style 1 half end stylemv2 where m is its mass and v is its orbital velocity 

  • An object does not need to travel at the escape velocity of a planet in order to be put into orbit

  • The energy required to launch an orbiting satellite out of Earth’s gravitational influence is more than the energy required to launch a stationary object (at the same height) out of Earth’s influence

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41 mark

Two satellites, A and B, of equal mass, are in orbit around Saturn at radii R and 2R respectively. 

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A has more kinetic energy and less potential energy than B

  • A has more kinetic energy and more potential energy than B

  • A has less kinetic energy and more potential energy than B

  • A has less kinetic energy and less potential energy than B

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51 mark

Two planetary systems are very far apart in space, but the properties of the orbiting planets are interesting and can be compared. 

One of the suns has a mass begin mathsize 16px style L subscript 1 end style and the other has a mass L subscript 2. Their orbiting planets, P subscript 1  and P subscript 2 have a mass of m subscript 1 and m subscript 2, and are observed to have identical orbits in shape and magnitude. 

If P subscript 1 completes an orbit in a quarter of the time taken by P subscript 2, which statement below can be reasonably deduced?

  • L subscript 1 equals L subscript 2 and m subscript 1 equals 1 over 9 m subscript 2

  • L subscript 1 equals 16 L subscript 2 and m subscript 1 equals m subscript 2

  • L subscript 1 equals 1 fourth L subscript 2

  • L subscript 1 equals 16 L subscript 2 only

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