Transcript 6.11B: Gravity

6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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Which statement below best describes Newton’s Law of
Universal Gravitation?
A
The gravitational pull exerted on an object depends on
the length of its orbital path.
B
The smaller an object is, the greater the force of gravity
it exerts.
C
Only the largest object in the universe exerts a
constant force that pulls every other object towards it.
D
All objects in the universe exert a gravitational force on
all other objects.
Why does the Sun not orbit Earth?
A
Only celestial objects within ten thousand miles of each
other can be brought into another body’s orbit.
B
Earth’s mass is less than the Sun’s, so Earth does not
have a strong enough gravitational pull to attract the
Sun into its orbit.
C
Only celestial bodies that emit light, like the Sun, can
be at the center of an orbit.
D
The Sun has an elliptical orbit, so it cannot orbit Earth,
which has a circular orbit.
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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A student looking at a model of the solar system noted there
is a belt of asteroids in orbit in between Mars and Jupiter as
shown in the picture provided.
Why do these asteroids orbit the Sun?
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A
They are too small to orbit a planet.
B
They are too large to orbit a planet.
C
They are too far from any planet to be affected.
D
The Sun’s gravitational pull keeps them in orbit.
A small planet that is close to the Sun will:
A
Have a strong gravitational pull exerted on it
B
Pull several smaller planets into its orbit
C
Have too small a mass to orbit the Sun
D
Orbit in an elliptical path
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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Look at the picture of planets in orbit.
Why do planets follow circular orbital paths?
A
The force of motion and force of gravity maintain the
planets’ constant path around the Sun.
B
In order to follow an elliptical path, the planet would
have to be larger than the Sun.
C
Planets’ masses are too large to be influenced by the
gravity of bodies other than the Sun.
D
Planets lose the ability to move forward over time as
they travel such a long distance to orbit the Sun.
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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A student wonders why the Moon orbits Earth.
What aspect of Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation would
help answer the student’s question?
A
The Moon was once part of Earth.
B
The greater the distance between two objects, the
weaker the force.
C
All objects exert the force of gravity on all other bodies.
D
There is no gravity in space.
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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As shown in the diagram provided, a student is making a
poster explaining Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
A
B
C
D
In the student’s poster, which object would have the
greatest gravitational force, assuming each object is made of
the same material?
A
Object A
B
Object B
C
Object C
D
Object D
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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Scientists at NASA have taken pictures of planets being
“eaten” by a star. What could have happened to the orbit of
the planet?
A
The gravity of the planet equaled the gravity of the star.
B
The planet did not belong to that star’s system.
C
The force of gravity of the star was less than the
forward motion of the planet.
D
The force of gravity of the star was greater than the
forward motion of the planet.
A scientist drew these two diagrams to show one aspect of
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation.
Which statement best explains the diagram?
A
The gravitational force of A is greater than the
gravitational force of B.
B
The gravitational force of A is less than the gravitational
force of B.
C
The gravitational force of A is equal to the gravitational
force of B.
D
Only B shows a gravitational force.
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6.11B: Gravity
Earth and Space
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As shown in the picture provided, a student was challenged
to put the planets of the solar system in order by the amount
of the force of gravity of each planet.
What planet should be listed as having the greatest
gravitational force?
A
Jupiter
B
Earth
C
Saturn
D
Uranus
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Earth and Space
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An astronomer was excited to discover another planetary
system with planets orbiting the most massive object in the
system. What is the massive object the planets of our solar
system orbit?
A
Venus
B
Earth
C
Jupiter
D
The Sun
A student is making a model of objects orbiting in the solar
system. What is an orbiting object that is not a planet that
the student could include in the model?
A
Neptune
B
A comet
C
The Sun
D
A star
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