Back to the full dot-point answer
VICPhysicsQuick questions
Unit 3: How do fields explain motion and electricity?
Quick questions on Gravitational fields and Newton's law of universal gravitation: VCE Physics Unit 3
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the field model?Show answer
A gravitational field surrounds every mass. A second mass placed in the field experiences a force toward the first. The field is a vector at each point, drawn with field lines that point in the direction of the force on a positive test mass.
What is field strength?Show answer
The gravitational field strength at a point is the force per unit mass:
What is gravitational potential energy in a uniform field?Show answer
Close to a planet's surface, the field is approximately uniform. The change in gravitational potential energy when an object of mass is raised through height is:
What is gravitational potential energy in a non-uniform field?Show answer
Far from a planet's surface, the field varies with distance and the equation no longer applies. The change in potential energy between two distances and equals the work done against the gravitational force, which is the area under the vs graph between those points.
What is q1?Show answer
State Newton's law of universal gravitation and define each symbol. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Earth-orbit radius m, kg. Calculate (a) gravitational field strength at surface, and (b) at altitude km (ISS orbit). [4 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Refer to Snowy 2.0 PE storage. (a) Calculate the energy stored per kg lifted m. (b) Determine the total stored energy in GL of water.
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.