Circular Motion, Gravitation, and Planetary Physics Practice Set

What is the direction of the velocity vector for an object moving in a circular path?

The velocity vector is tangent to the circular path.

What is the net force acting on an object moving in a circular path called?

The net force is called the centripetal force.

Why is an object moving in a circular path considered to be accelerating?

It is accelerating because its direction is continuously changing, even if its speed remains constant.

What is the source of the centripetal force that keeps the Earth in its orbit around the Sun?

The gravitational force exerted by the Sun.

How do you calculate the acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion?

Acceleration can be calculated using the formula a = v²/r, where v is the tangential speed and r is the radius of the circular path.

What is the formula to calculate the net force acting on an object in circular motion?

The net force can be calculated using F = m * a, where m is the mass of the object and a is the centripetal acceleration.

What happens if a car exceeds the maximum speed while making a circular turn?

If the car exceeds the maximum speed, it may skid out of the circular path due to insufficient centripetal force.

What effect does doubling one of the masses have on the gravitational force between two masses?

Doubling one of the masses will double the gravitational force between them.

What happens to the gravitational force if the distance between two masses is doubled?

The gravitational force is reduced to one-fourth of its original value.

According to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, what do all masses do to each other?

All masses attract each other with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

What are two ways to strengthen the gravitational attraction between two bodies?

Increase the masses of either or both bodies or decrease the distance between them.

In the Earth-Moon gravitational interaction, which body experiences a greater force?

Both bodies experience the same magnitude of force due to Newton's third law of motion.

What is the source of all gravitational fields?

The source of all gravitational fields is mass.

What happens when a mass is placed in a gravitational field?

The mass experiences a gravitational force directed towards the source of the field.

What is the difference between G and g?

G is the universal gravitational constant, while g is the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a celestial body.

What two quantities determine g at the surface of the Earth?

The mass of the Earth and the radius of the Earth.

How do you calculate the surface gravity of a planet?

Surface gravity can be calculated using the formula g = G * M / r², where M is the mass of the planet and r is its radius.

What is the gravitational force acting between two masses if one mass is halved?

The gravitational force is halved if one of the masses is halved.

What is the gravitational force acting between two masses if the distance between them is halved?

The gravitational force is quadrupled if the distance between them is halved.

How do you determine the proportional change in mass and radius between Earth and Saturn?

By comparing their respective mass and radius values and calculating the ratios.

What is the surface gravity on planet-c if the surface gravity on planet-b is 8.7 m/s²?

The surface gravity on planet-c can be calculated based on its mass and radius relative to planet-b.