Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Gravitational Field (CIE A Level Physics)

Exam Questions

43 mins5 questions
1a
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Planets create large gravitational fields. 

State what is meant by a gravitational field.

1b
Sme Calculator
1 mark

The Earth has a larger gravitational field strength than the moon. 

State what is meant by gravitational field strength.

1c
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Saturn has a gravitational field strength of 10.5 N kg–1 on its surface and a radius of 58 000 km. 

(i)
State the acceleration due to gravity of an object on Saturn.
[1]
(ii)
Calculate the mass of Saturn.
[3]
1d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Fig 1.1 represents Saturn as an isolated uniform sphere. 

Sketch the lines to represent the gravitational field outside the sphere.

13-1-1d-e-saturn-field-lines

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
5 marks

Astronaut A travels from the Earth to the Moon.

Explain the effect on astronaut A's mass and weight. 

2b
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Determine the gravitational field strength of the Moon using the following information about the astronaut.

  • F subscript g space E a r t h end subscript space equals space 770 space straight N
  • F subscript g space M o o n end subscript space equals space 128 space straight N
2c
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Astronaut A leaves the moon and visits the planet Mars. As they leave Mars, they notice that it takes less fuel to leave Mars' atmosphere than Earth's, but more fuel to leave Mars' atmosphere than the Moon's. 

Suggest what this infers about the gravitational field strength on Mars.

2d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Sketch a diagram of the gravitational field lines at the surface of Mars.

Did this page help you?

1a
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Sketch a diagram of the Earth's gravitational field:

i)   At the surface.

[2]

ii)   As a sphere.

[2]

1b
Sme Calculator
1 mark

The planet Lamentis has a gravitational field strength twice that of Earth.

Sketch a diagram of the gravitational field at the surface of Lamentis.

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Fig. 1.1 shows a small horizontal region on the surface of the Earth. X is a point underneath the surface which contains material of higher density than the material surrounding it.

On Fig. 1.1, draw the gravitational field lines on the surface of the Earth. 

 

7-1-s-q--q5a-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

Fig. 1.1

2b
Sme Calculator
3 marks

The spacecraft Centurion leaves Earth for Venus to identify potential mining locations based on fluctuations in the gravitational field strength on the surface of Venus.

The Centurion sends a landing party to the surface in a shuttle. The shuttle has a mass of 3.24×107 kg when launched from the Centurion, but looses 5% of its total mass in fuel combustion due to landing. The shuttle has a weight of 270 MN when it comes to rest on the surface of Venus.

Calculate the gravitational field strength on the surface of Venus.

2c
Sme Calculator
4 marks

The landing crew collect rock samples from the landing site. When the landing crew has finished its mission, the shuttle launches to return to the Centurion. At an altitude of 250 km above the surface of Venus, the mass lost through fuel combustion is equal to the total mass of the rocks collected at the surface.

Gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between masses.

F space proportional to space 1 over r squared

Calculate the gravitational field strength of Venus at 250 km above the surface.

The radius of Venus is 6.3 × 106 m.

Did this page help you?

3a
Sme Calculator
2 marks

An equation to describe field strength is:

gravitational space field space strength space equals X over Y

Define X and Y in the equation above.

 
3b
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Based on your answer to part (a), define the terms in the following equation:

 

 g equals F over m

3c
Sme Calculator
4 marks

The following text is about gravitational fields.

Complete the following sentences by crossing out the incorrect words: 

A gravitational field is a region of space in which objects with mass / charge will experience a force.

The direction of the gravitational field is always directed away from / towards the centre of the mass.

Gravitational forces are always / never repulsive.

Gravitational fields around a point mass are uniform / radial.

Did this page help you?