Question 1

Titan,the largest moon of Saturn,has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 × 109 m.Based on this information,what is Saturn's mass? For reference,the Earth's mass is 6 × 1024 kg.

Accepted Answer

A) 290 MEarth 
B) 130 MEarth 
C) 90 MEarth 
D) 40 MEarth 
E) 4 MEarth

Question 2

The moon keeps the same hemisphere facing the Earth because the _________ is equal to the _________.

Accepted Answer

A) rotational period of the Earth; orbital period of the Moon around the Earth 
B) orbital period of the Earth; orbital period of the Moon around the Earth 
C) orbital period of the Moon around the Earth; rotational period of the Earth 
D) rotational period of the Moon; orbital period of the Moon around the Earth 
E) rotational period of the Earth; orbital period of the Earth

Question 3

Suppose you are suddenly transported to a planet with 1/4 the mass of Earth but the same radius as the Earth.Your weight would _________ by a factor of _________.

Accepted Answer

A) increase;4 
B) increase;16 
C) decrease;4 
D) decrease;16 
E) increase;2

Question 4

If you measured the orbital period of the Moon and the distance between the Earth and the Moon then you could calculate:

Accepted Answer

A) the mass of the Moon 
B) the sum of the masses of the Earth and the Moon 
C) the average distance between the Earth and Sun 
D) the radius of the Earth 
E) the radius of the Moon

Question 5

What is the velocity one would need to give a satellite in order for it to escape from the Solar System (meaning escape the Sun's gravity)if it was launched from the Earth at a distance of 1 AU from the Sun? Give your answer in units of m/s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the velocity one would need...

Question 6

Two rocks (call them S and T)are a distance of 50 km from one another.Rock S has 20 times the mass of rock T.Considering only their mutual gravitational force,which rock will accelerate faster in response to gravity?

Accepted Answer

A) rock S 
B) rock T 
C) Both rocks will have the same acceleration. 
D) not enough information available to answer

Question 7

The force of gravity that an object has is directly proportional to its:

Accepted Answer

A) inertia 
B) size 
C) mass 
D) density 
E) distance

Question 8

You discover a moon orbiting a planet.The moon has an orbital period of three weeks,and the average distance between the moon and planet is 1.2 × 10⁶ km.What is the planet's mass? Compare its mass to that of Jupiter,which is 1.9 × 10²⁷ kg.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You discover a moon orbiting a planet.The...

Question 9

An unbound orbit results when a satellite has a velocity greater than the escape velocity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Explain what the terms circular velocity and escape velocity mean.Give the formula for each and explain what each mathematical symbol represents.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what the terms circular velocity and...

Question 11

Assume that a planet just like Earth orbits the bright star named Sirius.If this Earth-like planet orbits with a semimajor axis of 1 AU and an orbital period of 7 months,what is the mass of Sirius?

Accepted Answer

A) 3 M⨀ 
B) 12 M⨀ 
C) 8 M⨀ 
D) 5 M⨀ 
E) 17 M⨀

Question 12

Mass and weight are different names for the same physical property of matter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which one of the statements below about a planet's Roche limit is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) The Roche limit is about 2.5 times the radius of gaseous planets. 
B) Objects orbiting closer to a planet than the Roche limit are likely to be ripped apart by tidal forces. 
C) The Roche limit is where tidal forces from an orbiting object are equal to its internal self-gravity. 
D) Orbiting objects beyond the Roche limit from the planet do not get ripped apart by tidal forces. 
E) The ring systems around giant planets are located beyond the Roche limit.

Question 14

Because of tidal forces,for every _________ time(s)it rotates on its axis,Mercury revolves around the Sun _________ time(s).

Accepted Answer

A) 1;1 
B) 2;3 
C) 3;2 
D) 10;1 
E) 20;1

Question 15

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 90 degrees in the sky,_________ tides occur on Earth when the strength of the tides are _________ than normal.

Accepted Answer

A) spring;smaller 
B) spring;larger 
C) lunar;smaller 
D) neap;smaller 
E) neap;larger

Question 16

All objects on Earth,regardless of the size of their mass,fall with the same acceleration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What is the escape velocity from a large asteroid if its mass is 6 × 1021 kg and its radius is 2,400 km?

Accepted Answer

A) 98 km/s 
B) 210 km/s 
C) 340 m/s 
D) 580 m/s 
E) 12,400 m/s

Question 18

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between being weightless and...

Question 19

The International Space Station orbits at an altitude of 400 km above the Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit,what is its velocity? For reference,the Earth's radius is 6,400 km,and Earth's mass is 6 × 10²⁴ kg and G = 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg².

Accepted Answer

The answer of The International Space Station orbits at an...

Question 20

How fast is the Moon moving as it orbits the Earth? For reference,the Moon's orbit is approximately circular with a radius equal to 400,000 km,and the Moon's orbital period is 27 days.

Accepted Answer

A) 1 km/s 
B) 10 km/s 
C) 50 km/ 
D) 100 km/s 
E) 500 km/s

Exam 4: Gravity and Orbits

Titan,the largest moon of Saturn,has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 × 10⁹ m.Based on this information,what is Saturn's mass? For reference,the Earth's mass is 6 × 10²⁴ kg.

The moon keeps the same hemisphere facing the Earth because the _ is equal to the _.

Suppose you are suddenly transported to a planet with 1/4 the mass of Earth but the same radius as the Earth.Your weight would _ by a factor of _.

If you measured the orbital period of the Moon and the distance between the Earth and the Moon then you could calculate:

What is the velocity one would need to give a satellite in order for it to escape from the Solar System (meaning escape the Sun's gravity)if it was launched from the Earth at a distance of 1 AU from the Sun? Give your answer in units of m/s.

Two rocks (call them S and T) are a distance of 50 km from one another.Rock S has 20 times the mass of rock T.Considering only their mutual gravitational force,which rock will accelerate faster in response to gravity?

The force of gravity that an object has is directly proportional to its:

You discover a moon orbiting a planet.The moon has an orbital period of three weeks,and the average distance between the moon and planet is 1.2 × 10⁶ km.What is the planet's mass? Compare its mass to that of Jupiter,which is 1.9 × 10²⁷ kg.

An unbound orbit results when a satellite has a velocity greater than the escape velocity.

Explain what the terms circular velocity and escape velocity mean.Give the formula for each and explain what each mathematical symbol represents.

Assume that a planet just like Earth orbits the bright star named Sirius.If this Earth-like planet orbits with a semimajor axis of 1 AU and an orbital period of 7 months,what is the mass of Sirius?

Mass and weight are different names for the same physical property of matter.

Which one of the statements below about a planet's Roche limit is FALSE?

Because of tidal forces,for every _ time(s) it rotates on its axis,Mercury revolves around the Sun _ time(s) .

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 90 degrees in the sky,_ tides occur on Earth when the strength of the tides are _ than normal.

All objects on Earth,regardless of the size of their mass,fall with the same acceleration.

What is the escape velocity from a large asteroid if its mass is 6 × 10²¹ kg and its radius is 2,400 km?

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

The International Space Station orbits at an altitude of 400 km above the Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit,what is its velocity? For reference,the Earth's radius is 6,400 km,and Earth's mass is 6 × 10²⁴ kg and G = 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg².

How fast is the Moon moving as it orbits the Earth? For reference,the Moon's orbit is approximately circular with a radius equal to 400,000 km,and the Moon's orbital period is 27 days.

Exam 4: Gravity and Orbits

Titan,the largest moon of Saturn,has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 × 109 m.Based on this information,what is Saturn's mass? For reference,the Earth's mass is 6 × 1024 kg.

The moon keeps the same hemisphere facing the Earth because the _________ is equal to the _________.

Suppose you are suddenly transported to a planet with 1/4 the mass of Earth but the same radius as the Earth.Your weight would _________ by a factor of _________.

If you measured the orbital period of the Moon and the distance between the Earth and the Moon then you could calculate:

What is the velocity one would need to give a satellite in order for it to escape from the Solar System (meaning escape the Sun's gravity)if it was launched from the Earth at a distance of 1 AU from the Sun? Give your answer in units of m/s.

Two rocks (call them S and T) are a distance of 50 km from one another.Rock S has 20 times the mass of rock T.Considering only their mutual gravitational force,which rock will accelerate faster in response to gravity?

The force of gravity that an object has is directly proportional to its:

You discover a moon orbiting a planet.The moon has an orbital period of three weeks,and the average distance between the moon and planet is 1.2 × 106 km.What is the planet's mass? Compare its mass to that of Jupiter,which is 1.9 × 1027 kg.

An unbound orbit results when a satellite has a velocity greater than the escape velocity.

Explain what the terms circular velocity and escape velocity mean.Give the formula for each and explain what each mathematical symbol represents.

Assume that a planet just like Earth orbits the bright star named Sirius.If this Earth-like planet orbits with a semimajor axis of 1 AU and an orbital period of 7 months,what is the mass of Sirius?

Mass and weight are different names for the same physical property of matter.

Which one of the statements below about a planet's Roche limit is FALSE?

Because of tidal forces,for every _________ time(s) it rotates on its axis,Mercury revolves around the Sun _________ time(s) .

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 90 degrees in the sky,_________ tides occur on Earth when the strength of the tides are _________ than normal.

All objects on Earth,regardless of the size of their mass,fall with the same acceleration.

What is the escape velocity from a large asteroid if its mass is 6 × 1021 kg and its radius is 2,400 km?

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

The International Space Station orbits at an altitude of 400 km above the Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit,what is its velocity? For reference,the Earth's radius is 6,400 km,and Earth's mass is 6 × 1024 kg and G = 6.7 × 10−11 N m2/kg2.

How fast is the Moon moving as it orbits the Earth? For reference,the Moon's orbit is approximately circular with a radius equal to 400,000 km,and the Moon's orbital period is 27 days.

Titan,the largest moon of Saturn,has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 × 10⁹ m.Based on this information,what is Saturn's mass? For reference,the Earth's mass is 6 × 10²⁴ kg.

The moon keeps the same hemisphere facing the Earth because the _ is equal to the _.

Suppose you are suddenly transported to a planet with 1/4 the mass of Earth but the same radius as the Earth.Your weight would _ by a factor of _.

You discover a moon orbiting a planet.The moon has an orbital period of three weeks,and the average distance between the moon and planet is 1.2 × 10⁶ km.What is the planet's mass? Compare its mass to that of Jupiter,which is 1.9 × 10²⁷ kg.

Because of tidal forces,for every _ time(s) it rotates on its axis,Mercury revolves around the Sun _ time(s) .

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 90 degrees in the sky,_ tides occur on Earth when the strength of the tides are _ than normal.

What is the escape velocity from a large asteroid if its mass is 6 × 10²¹ kg and its radius is 2,400 km?

The International Space Station orbits at an altitude of 400 km above the Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit,what is its velocity? For reference,the Earth's radius is 6,400 km,and Earth's mass is 6 × 10²⁴ kg and G = 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg².