Question 1

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 1 year. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

Accepted Answer

A)  The star has the same mass as the Sun. 
B)  The star's mass is around 2 times smaller than the Sun's. 
C)  The star's mass is around 2 times larger than the Sun's. 
D)  The star's mass is around 4 times smaller than the Sun's. 
E)  The star's mass is around 4 times larger than the Sun's. 
A)  The star has the same mass as the Sun. 
B)  The star's mass is around 2 times smaller than the Sun's. 
C)  The star's mass is around 2 times larger than the Sun's. 
D)  The star's mass is around 4 times smaller than the Sun's. 
E)  The star's mass is around 4 times larger than the Sun's.

Question 2

Which of the following objects (A-D) are accelerating? A. an object at rest, B. an object in motion in a straight line at a constant speed, C. an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed, D. an object moving in a circle at constant speed.

Accepted Answer

A)  an object at rest only 
B)  All but an object at rest 
C)  an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed only 
D)  an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed and an object moving in a circle at constant speed. 
A)  an object at rest only 
B)  All but an object at rest 
C)  an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed only 
D)  an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed and an object moving in a circle at constant speed.

Question 3

After tying a string to a rock, you twirl the rock around above your head. If the string were to break, what path would the rock follow?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rock will fall down immediately. 
B)  The rock will complete the circle before falling down. 
C)  The rock will go in a straight line before falling down. 
D)  The rock will fly upward. 
A)  The rock will fall down immediately. 
B)  The rock will complete the circle before falling down. 
C)  The rock will go in a straight line before falling down. 
D)  The rock will fly upward.

Question 4

A magician pulls a tablecloth out from under the settings on a dinner table without disturbing the dishes.This is an example of _________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton's First law of motion 
B)  Newton's Second law of motion 
C)  Newton's Third law of motion 
D)  the Hannum-Barnum law 
E)  Kepler's laws of motion 
A)  Newton's First law of motion 
B)  Newton's Second law of motion 
C)  Newton's Third law of motion 
D)  the Hannum-Barnum law 
E)  Kepler's laws of motion

Question 5

A satellite is moved from a low orbit to one that is twice as far from Earth.Its mass at its new orbit is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  unchanged 
B)  decreased by a factor of 2 
C)  decreased by a factor of 4 
D)  There is no gravity in space. 
E)  increased by a factor of 2 
A)  unchanged 
B)  decreased by a factor of 2 
C)  decreased by a factor of 4 
D)  There is no gravity in space. 
E)  increased by a factor of 2

Question 6

If the force of gravity exerted on the Sun by Earth is the same as the force exerted by Earth on the Sun, why does Earth orbit the Sun, and not the other way around?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is less massive, and is accelerated more by the gravitational force and moves faster. 
B)  Planets, by definition, orbit the Sun, and not the other way around. 
C)  They each orbit around the geometric center of the system. 
D)  The combined gravitational forces of all the planets keeps the Sun at the center of the Solar System. 
E)  None of these choices is correct. 
A)  Earth is less massive, and is accelerated more by the gravitational force and moves faster. 
B)  Planets, by definition, orbit the Sun, and not the other way around. 
C)  They each orbit around the geometric center of the system. 
D)  The combined gravitational forces of all the planets keeps the Sun at the center of the Solar System. 
E)  None of these choices is correct.

Question 7

What is the average orbital speed of Earth around the Sun? (Note: r = 1.5 × 1011 m and P = 3.16 × 107 s.)

Accepted Answer

A)  about 30 km/s 
B)  about 4.7 km/s 
C)  about 9.8 m/s2 
D)  365 days 
E)  1,000 km/s 
A)  about 30 km/s 
B)  about 4.7 km/s 
C)  about 9.8 m/s2 
D)  365 days 
E)  1,000 km/s

Question 8

The gravitational force exerted by the Sun on Earth is ____ the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A)  greater than 
B)  less than 
C)  equal to 
D)  unrelated to 
A)  greater than 
B)  less than 
C)  equal to 
D)  unrelated to

Question 9

Mars completes one orbit around the Sun in approximately two Earth years. Mars' average distance to the Sun is about 1.5 AU. Therefore the Mars' orbital speed is lower than Earth's orbital speed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Suppose that a planet was discovered that has twice the mass and twice the diameter of Earth. What would be the escape velocity for this planet? (Assume that for Earth the escape velocity is 11 km/s.)

Accepted Answer

A)  22 km/s 
B)  11 km/s 
C)  15.6 km/s 
D)  7.8 km/s 
A)  22 km/s 
B)  11 km/s 
C)  15.6 km/s 
D)  7.8 km/s

Question 11

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 2 years. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

Accepted Answer

A)  The star has the same mass as the Sun. 
B)  The star's mass is around 2 times smaller than the Sun's. 
C)  The star's mass is around 2 times larger than the Sun's. 
D)  The star's mass is around 4 times smaller than the Sun's. 
E)  The star's mass is around 4 times larger than the Sun's. 
A)  The star has the same mass as the Sun. 
B)  The star's mass is around 2 times smaller than the Sun's. 
C)  The star's mass is around 2 times larger than the Sun's. 
D)  The star's mass is around 4 times smaller than the Sun's. 
E)  The star's mass is around 4 times larger than the Sun's.

Question 12

How are mass and weight different?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no difference; they are the same. 
B)  Weight is a measure of how much gravity pulls an object; mass is how much matter the object has. 
C)  Mass is the amount of matter an object contains; weight is how much mass an object contains. 
D)  Weight is the amount of matter an object contains; mass is the type of matter an object is made of. 
A)  There is no difference; they are the same. 
B)  Weight is a measure of how much gravity pulls an object; mass is how much matter the object has. 
C)  Mass is the amount of matter an object contains; weight is how much mass an object contains. 
D)  Weight is the amount of matter an object contains; mass is the type of matter an object is made of.

Question 13

A weather satellite moves at a constant orbital speed around Earth.Is this satellite accelerating?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing. 
B)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - the force of gravity is pulling it toward the ground. 
C)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground. 
D)  Yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing and yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground.. 
E)  Yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing; yes, the satellite is accelerating - the force of gravity is pulling it toward the ground; and yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground, are correct. 
A)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing. 
B)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - the force of gravity is pulling it toward the ground. 
C)  yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground. 
D)  Yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing and yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground.. 
E)  Yes, the satellite is accelerating - its speed is constant but its direction is changing; yes, the satellite is accelerating - the force of gravity is pulling it toward the ground; and yes, the satellite is accelerating - it is in freefall toward the ground, are correct.

Question 14

A 200-kg spacecraft is launched to the Moon. While in orbit around the Moon, its mass is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  zero 
B)  200 kg 
C)  about 1/6th its mass at Earth 
D)  The answer depends on how close to the Moon the ship is orbiting 
A)  zero 
B)  200 kg 
C)  about 1/6th its mass at Earth 
D)  The answer depends on how close to the Moon the ship is orbiting

Question 15

An astronaut in orbit around Earth drops her pen, and it floats gently next to her hand.Why does it not fall to the floor?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no gravity in space. 
B)  The gravitational pull is very weak at typical altitudes for orbiting spacecraft. 
C)  Objects in orbit have no mass. 
D)  All objects in the spacecraft are falling toward Earth at the same rate. 
E)  The net force on the pen is zero. 
A)  There is no gravity in space. 
B)  The gravitational pull is very weak at typical altitudes for orbiting spacecraft. 
C)  Objects in orbit have no mass. 
D)  All objects in the spacecraft are falling toward Earth at the same rate. 
E)  The net force on the pen is zero.

Question 16

How can we tell that the Moon is held in orbit around Earth by a force?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon follows a curved path as it orbits. 
B)  The Moon's gravity creates tides in Earth's oceans. 
C)  The Moon is always at the same distance from Earth. 
D)  One side of the Moon is always facing Earth. 
E)  Earth's gravitational force pulls inward on the Moon. 
A)  The Moon follows a curved path as it orbits. 
B)  The Moon's gravity creates tides in Earth's oceans. 
C)  The Moon is always at the same distance from Earth. 
D)  One side of the Moon is always facing Earth. 
E)  Earth's gravitational force pulls inward on the Moon.

Question 17

What is Newton's Third law of motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  When two bodies interact, they create equal and opposite forces on each other. 
B)  Force equals mass times acceleration, F=ma. 
C)  Every mass exerts a force on any other mass that is proportional to the product of the masses divided by the square of the distance between them. 
D)  A body continues in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless made to change that state by forces acting on it. 
A)  When two bodies interact, they create equal and opposite forces on each other. 
B)  Force equals mass times acceleration, F=ma. 
C)  Every mass exerts a force on any other mass that is proportional to the product of the masses divided by the square of the distance between them. 
D)  A body continues in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless made to change that state by forces acting on it.

Question 18

Which of the following objects is experiencing Earth's gravitational force?

Accepted Answer

A)  a boat floating in water 
B)  an airplane taking-off 
C)  a skydiver falling under the force of gravity 
D)  All of these choices are correct. 
E)  Only an airplane taking-off and a skydiver falling under the force of gravity above. 
A)  a boat floating in water 
B)  an airplane taking-off 
C)  a skydiver falling under the force of gravity 
D)  All of these choices are correct. 
E)  Only an airplane taking-off and a skydiver falling under the force of gravity above.

Question 19

While riding a bicycle, if you stop pedaling you will still continue to move forward due to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity 
B)  inertia 
C)  acceleration 
D)  pressure 
A)  gravity 
B)  inertia 
C)  acceleration 
D)  pressure

Question 20

The escape velocity from the Moon is 2.4 km/s. If an astronaut hits a golf ball such that it just reaches this speed, the ball will __________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  continue moving away from the Moon, never to return 
B)  follow a very elliptical orbit around the Moon 
C)  move away from the Moon, but return some time later 
D)  either orbit the Moon or escape its gravitational pull, depending on the direction the ball is hit 
A)  continue moving away from the Moon, never to return 
B)  follow a very elliptical orbit around the Moon 
C)  move away from the Moon, but return some time later 
D)  either orbit the Moon or escape its gravitational pull, depending on the direction the ball is hit

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 1 year. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

Which of the following objects (A-D) are accelerating? A. an object at rest, B. an object in motion in a straight line at a constant speed, C. an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed, D. an object moving in a circle at constant speed.

After tying a string to a rock, you twirl the rock around above your head. If the string were to break, what path would the rock follow?

A magician pulls a tablecloth out from under the settings on a dinner table without disturbing the dishes.This is an example of _________.

A satellite is moved from a low orbit to one that is twice as far from Earth.Its mass at its new orbit is ____.

If the force of gravity exerted on the Sun by Earth is the same as the force exerted by Earth on the Sun, why does Earth orbit the Sun, and not the other way around?

What is the average orbital speed of Earth around the Sun? (Note: r = 1.5 × 10¹¹ m and P = 3.16 × 10⁷ s.)

The gravitational force exerted by the Sun on Earth is ____ the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the Sun.

Mars completes one orbit around the Sun in approximately two Earth years. Mars' average distance to the Sun is about 1.5 AU. Therefore the Mars' orbital speed is lower than Earth's orbital speed.

Suppose that a planet was discovered that has twice the mass and twice the diameter of Earth. What would be the escape velocity for this planet? (Assume that for Earth the escape velocity is 11 km/s.)

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 2 years. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

How are mass and weight different?

A weather satellite moves at a constant orbital speed around Earth.Is this satellite accelerating?

A 200-kg spacecraft is launched to the Moon. While in orbit around the Moon, its mass is ____.

An astronaut in orbit around Earth drops her pen, and it floats gently next to her hand.Why does it not fall to the floor?

How can we tell that the Moon is held in orbit around Earth by a force?

What is Newton's Third law of motion?

Which of the following objects is experiencing Earth's gravitational force?

While riding a bicycle, if you stop pedaling you will still continue to move forward due to ______.

The escape velocity from the Moon is 2.4 km/s. If an astronaut hits a golf ball such that it just reaches this speed, the ball will __________________________.

The Cycles of the Sky

The Rise of Astronomy

Light and Atoms

Telescopes

Earth

The Moon

Survey of Solar Systems

The Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Small Bodies Orbiting the Sun

The Sun, Our Star

Measuring the Properties of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Stellar Remnants: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology

Filters

Exam 3: Gravity and Motion

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 1 year. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

Which of the following objects (A-D) are accelerating? A. an object at rest, B. an object in motion in a straight line at a constant speed, C. an object in motion in a straight line with increasing speed, D. an object moving in a circle at constant speed.

After tying a string to a rock, you twirl the rock around above your head. If the string were to break, what path would the rock follow?

A magician pulls a tablecloth out from under the settings on a dinner table without disturbing the dishes.This is an example of _________.

A satellite is moved from a low orbit to one that is twice as far from Earth.Its mass at its new orbit is ____.

If the force of gravity exerted on the Sun by Earth is the same as the force exerted by Earth on the Sun, why does Earth orbit the Sun, and not the other way around?

What is the average orbital speed of Earth around the Sun? (Note: r = 1.5 × 1011 m and P = 3.16 × 107 s.)

The gravitational force exerted by the Sun on Earth is ____ the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the Sun.

Mars completes one orbit around the Sun in approximately two Earth years. Mars' average distance to the Sun is about 1.5 AU. Therefore the Mars' orbital speed is lower than Earth's orbital speed.

Suppose that a planet was discovered that has twice the mass and twice the diameter of Earth. What would be the escape velocity for this planet? (Assume that for Earth the escape velocity is 11 km/s.)

A planet is discovered at a distance of 1 AU from its parent star with a period of 2 years. How does the star's mass compare to our Sun's?

How are mass and weight different?

A weather satellite moves at a constant orbital speed around Earth.Is this satellite accelerating?

A 200-kg spacecraft is launched to the Moon. While in orbit around the Moon, its mass is ____.

An astronaut in orbit around Earth drops her pen, and it floats gently next to her hand.Why does it not fall to the floor?

How can we tell that the Moon is held in orbit around Earth by a force?

What is Newton's Third law of motion?

Which of the following objects is experiencing Earth's gravitational force?

While riding a bicycle, if you stop pedaling you will still continue to move forward due to ______.

The escape velocity from the Moon is 2.4 km/s. If an astronaut hits a golf ball such that it just reaches this speed, the ball will __________________________.

The Cycles of the Sky

The Rise of Astronomy

Light and Atoms

Telescopes

Earth

The Moon

Survey of Solar Systems

The Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Small Bodies Orbiting the Sun

The Sun, Our Star

Measuring the Properties of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Stellar Remnants: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology

Filters

What is the average orbital speed of Earth around the Sun? (Note: r = 1.5 × 10¹¹ m and P = 3.16 × 10⁷ s.)