BAYSIDE SCHOOL A-LEVEL PHYSICS

7.2 GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS: Orbits and Satellites

1. What would be the gravitational force on a 0.75 tonne satellite orbiting at a height in the Earth’s
gravitational field where the potential gradient is 8.2 J m-1?

2. (a) Calculate the gravitational potential at points A and B which are 200 km and 350 km
respectively above the surface of the Earth.
(b) Calculate the energy required to move a rocket of mass 3.5 tonnes from A to B.
(c) Point C is 200 km above the surface of the Earth. Explain why no work is done as the rocket
moves from point A to point C.
(m E = 5.97 × 10 24 kg, R E = 6370 km)

3. A satellite is in a circular orbit at a height of 900 km around a planet of radius 5100 km. At this
height, the gravitational field strength is 3.2 N kg-1. Calculate the speed of the satellite.

4. Planets A and B orbit the same star. The orbital radius of planet B is nine times that of planet A.
orbital period of planet B
Calculate the magnitude of the ratio .
orbital period of planet A

5. A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth along a path of radius 5.27 × 104 km. Calculate
(a) the speed of the satellite,
(b) the gravitational field strength at this height.

6. A satellite is in orbit above the Earth on a path of radius 8500 km. At this height, the gravitational
field strength is 5.7 N kg-1. Calculate the time period of the satellite's orbit.

7. A satellite of mass 210 kg is in a circular orbit around the Earth at a height of 420 km. Calculate its
(a) gravitational potential energy, (b) velocity,
(c) kinetic energy, (d) total energy.
(m E = 5.97 × 10 24 kg, R E = 6370 km)

1: 6.2 kN | 2: -60.6 MJ kg-1, -59.3 MJ kg-1, 4.74 GJ | 3: 4.4 km s-1 | 4: 27 | 5: 2.7 km s-1, 0.14 N kg-1 | 6: 128 minnutes | 7: -1.2 × 10 10 J, 7.7 km s-1 ,
9 9
6.2 × 10 J, -6.2 × 10 J

HOMEWORKS / FIELDS 4. SL / 2021