All AP Physics 1 Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Universal Gravitation
A certain planet has three times the radius of Earth and nine times the mass. How does the acceleration of gravity at the surface of this planet (ag) compare to the acceleration at the surface of Earth (g)?
The acceleration of gravity is given by the equation , where G is constant.
For Earth, .
For the new planet,
.
So, the acceleration is the same in both cases.
Example Question #31 : Forces
A new planet is discovered with mass and with a diameter of . What is the lowest escape velocity required to escape this planet's gravitational pull?
The equation to calculate the escape velocity from a planet is
The diameter of the planet is given and can be divided by two to determine the radius of the planet. By plugging in the given values, the escape velocity threshold can be determined:
Example Question #1 : Universal Gravitation
There are two isolated stars orbiting each other. The first star has a mass of and the second star has a mass of . If the stars are 2,000km away, what is the gravitational force felt by the first star?
None of the other answers
We need to know Newton's law of universal gravitation to solve this problem:
It is important to note that both suns will feel the same gravitational force. However, since they have different masses, they will accelerate at different rates.
Plugging in the variables we have, we get:
Example Question #1 : Understanding Universal Gravitation
Two satellites in space, each with a mass of , are apart from each other. What is the force of gravity between them?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the satellite masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
Example Question #2 : Universal Gravitation
Two satellites in space, each with a mass of , are apart from each other. What is the force of gravity between them?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the satellite masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
Example Question #4 : Universal Gravitation
Two satellites in space, each with equal mass, are apart from each other. If the force of gravity between them is , what is the mass of each satellite?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the value of the force, the distance (radius), and the gravitational constant. We are also told that the masses of the two satellites are equal. Since the masses are equal, we can reduce the numerator of the law of gravitation to a single variable.
Now we can use our give values to solve for the mass.
Example Question #1 : Universal Gravitation
Two asteroids in space are in close proximity to each other. Each has a mass of . If they are apart, what is the gravitational force between them?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the asteroid masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
Example Question #2 : Universal Gravitation
Two asteroids in space are in close proximity to each other. Each has a mass of . If they are apart, what is the gravitational acceleration that they experience?
Given that , we already know the mass, but we need to find the force in order to solve for the acceleration.
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the satellite masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
Now we have values for both the mass and the force, allowing us to solve for the acceleration.
Example Question #2 : Universal Gravitation
Two asteroids, one with a mass of and the other with mass , are apart. What is the gravitational force on the LARGER asteroid?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the asteroid masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
It actually doesn't matter which asteroid we're looking at; the gravitational force will be the same. This makes sense because Newton's 3rd law states that the force one asteroid exerts on the other is equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to the force the other asteroid exerts on it.
Example Question #3 : Universal Gravitation
Two asteroids, one with a mass of and the other with mass are apart. What is the gravitational force on the SMALLER asteroid?
To solve this problem, use Newton's law of universal gravitation:
We are given the constant, as well as the asteroid masses and distance (radius). Using these values we can solve for the force.
It actually doesn't matter which asteroid we're looking at; the gravitational force will be the same. This makes sense because Newton's 3rd law states that the force one asteroid exerts on the other is equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to the force the other asteroid exerts on it.
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