4.

05 PPQ answers Page 1 of 4 Unit 4 classwork

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS: GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS – ANSWERS

Q1 [= SU June 2004 Q1]

1(a) (i) ℎ = 𝑐 𝑡 = 3.0  108  68  10−3 = 2.0(4)  107 m ✓ (1)

(ii) 𝑔 = (−) 𝐺𝑀/𝑟 2 ✓

𝑟 = (6.37  106 + 2.04  107) = 2.68  107 m ✓ (2.677  107 m)
𝑔 = 6.67  10-11  5.97  1024  (2.68  107)2 ✓ (0.55 N kg-1 or 0.56 N kg-1 if 𝑟 isn’t rounded)
Allow ECF from (i) for first 2 marks, but not the third (3)

1(b) (i) (gravitational acceleration = centripetal acceleration, hence) 𝑔 = 𝑣 2 /𝑟 ✓

𝑣 = √𝑔 𝑟 = √0.55 × 2.68 × 107 ✓
𝑣 = 3.9  103 ms-1 ✓ (3.87  103) Allow e.c.f. for value of 𝑟 from (a)(ii)

OR (𝐹𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐹𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 leads to) 𝑣 2 = 𝐺𝑀/𝑟 ✓

𝑣 = √6.67 × 10−11 × 5.97 × 1024 ÷ (2.68 × 107 ) ✓ {or 𝑣 2 = 1.49  107 ✓}

𝑣 = 3.9  103 m s-1 ✓ (3.87  103 m s-1) (3)

(ii) 𝑇 = 2𝜋𝑟/𝑣 = 2𝜋  2.68  107  (3.87  103) ✓

𝑇 = 4.3(5)  104 s ✓
Use of 𝑣 = 3.9  103 gives 𝑇 = 4.3(1)  104 s. Allow e.c.f. for value of 𝑣 from (i)

OR 𝑇 2 = 4𝜋 2 𝑟 3 /𝐺𝑀 ✓
Substitution to give (𝑇 2 = 1.90  109 s2 and) 𝑇 = 4.3(6)  104 s ✓ (2)

Q2 [= FA Jan 2003 Q2]

2(a) Direction changing, velocity is a vector ✓ (1)

2(b) Newton’s law equation (𝐹 = 𝐺𝑀𝑚/𝑟 2 ) ✓

Centripetal force equation (𝐹 = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑟) ✓ Must include angular speed 𝜔 for this mark
Equate and cancel mass of Triton ✓ (3)

2(c) 𝜔2 = 𝐺𝑀/𝑟 3 from (b) leads to idea that 𝜔2 𝑟 3 = 𝐺𝑀 = constant ✓

𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 or 𝜔 = 2𝜋/𝑇 ✓ Accept 𝑇 2 = 4𝜋 2 𝑟 3 /𝐺𝑀 for both this and previous mark
(𝑇 2 ∝ 𝑟 3 leads to) 𝑇𝑇2 /𝑇𝑃2 = 𝑟𝑇3 /𝑟𝑃3 ✓
𝑇𝑇 /𝑇𝑃 = { (3.55  108)3  (1.18  108)3 }1/2 = 5.2(2) ✓ (4)

Q3 [= Physics B Unit 4 June 2015 Q3(b)]

3. Idea that both astronaut and vehicle are travelling at same (orbital) speed or have the same
(centripetal) acceleration / are in freefall ✓
No (normal) reaction / contact force (between astronaut and vehicle) ✓ 2
4.05 PPQ answers Page 2 of 4 Unit 4 classwork

Q4 [= WFNE June 2004 Q4]

4(a) Work = force × distance moved in direction of force ✓
(In circular motion) force is perpendicular to displacement ✓
No movement in direction of force ✓ (hence no work) (3)

4(b) (i) Any suitable example of circular motion ✓ (1)

(ii) Any SHM example at maximum displacement ✓

[Or any other suitable example, e.g. car starts from rest] (1)

Q5 [= WFNE B June 2005 Q4]

5(a) Attractive force between (point) masses ✓ {often overlooked!}
Proportional to (product of) the masses ✓
Inversely proportional to square of separation / distance apart ✓
For last mark, must be separation of point masses or distance between centres of mass. Do
not accept ‘radius’. (3)
{You could get the last two marks by writing down the equation in words, or writing in symbols
and then defining them. Just writing the equation in symbols gains no marks at all.}

5(b) (𝐹𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣 = 𝐹𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 gives) 𝐺𝑀𝑚2 /𝑅2 = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑅 ✓ or 𝑚𝑣 2 /𝑅

(Use of 𝑇 = 2𝜋/𝜔 gives) 𝐺𝑀/𝑅3 = 4𝜋 2 /𝑇 2 ✓ or use of 𝑇 = 2𝜋𝑅/𝑣
𝐺 and 𝑀 are constants, hence 𝑇 2 ∝ 𝑅3 ✓ or 𝑇 2 = 4𝜋 2 𝑅3 /𝐺𝑀 (3)

5(c) (i) (Use of 𝑇 2 ∝ 𝑅3 gives (𝑇 2 /𝑅3 )𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ = (𝑇 2 /𝑅3 )𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑦 )

3652  (1.5  1011)3 = 𝑇𝑚2  (5.79  1010)3 ✓
𝑇𝑚 = 87(.5) days ✓

Alternative 1:
𝑇 2 ∝ 𝑅3 means that 𝑇 2 = 𝑘 𝑅3
Find 𝑘 = 𝑇 2 /𝑅3 for Earth = 3652  (1.5  1011)3 = 3.95  10-29 ✓
2
𝑇𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐 3
= 𝑘𝑅𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐 = 3.95  10-29  (5.79  1010)3 = 7 662 so 𝑇 = √7 662 = 87(.5) days

Alternative 2:
Use 𝑇 2 = 4𝜋 2 𝑅3 /𝐺𝑀 and substitute the Sun’s mass for 𝑀 ✓
Solve ✓
{This wasn’t an option in the old A level as the Sun’s mass wasn’t on the data sheet.} (2)

(ii) ((𝑇 2 /𝑅3 )𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ = (𝑇 2 /𝑅3 )𝑁𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑒 )

3
12  (1.5  1011)3 = 1652  𝑅𝑁3 gives 𝑅𝑁 = 4.52 × 1012 m ✓ or 𝑅𝑁 /𝑅𝐸 = √ 𝑇𝑁2 / 𝑇𝐸2
{Note the use of years as the unit for time in the line above}
Ratio (= 4.52  1012  (1.5  1011)) = 30(.1) ✓ (2)

{And you could use similar alternative methods as in (i) if you wished.}
4.05 PPQ answers Page 3 of 4 Unit 4 classwork

Q6 [= Physics B Unit 4 Jan 2013 Q2]

6(a) {The clever bit is to look at the masses as being the same as an ‘ordinary’ density Earth
with an additional sphere of radius 600 m superimposed on top of this.
The additional sphere has the ‘extra’ density above that of the ‘normal’ Earth density so
that the total density in that 600 m radius is 7 200 kg m-3.
It’s a little bit like wave superposition?}

(Ore is denser than ‘normal’ Earth by 7 200 – 2 500 = 4 700 kg m-3 hence)
Extra mass (= 𝑉 𝛥𝜌) = (4/3) 𝜋 6003  4 700 = 4.25 × 1012 (kg) ✓
Allow correct substitution. Allow for one mass calculated correctly i.e. mass of ore body
(6.5  1012) or mass of displaced ‘Earth’ (2.3  1012)

𝑔𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 = 𝐺𝑀𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 /𝑟 2 used to calculate additional 𝑔 due to additional 𝑀✓

𝑔𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 = 6.67  10-11  4.25  1012  (600 + 100)2 = 5.8  10-4 N kg−1 ✓ (3)

6(b) (i) Attempt to manipulate pendulum formula 𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑙/𝑔 to give 𝑇 2 ✓

Correct manipulation to produce 𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 𝑙 / 𝑇 2 ✓
Correct conclusion, clearly identifying 4𝜋 2 /𝐿 as constant for a given pendulum ✓ (3)

(ii) Fractional uncertainty in 𝑇 (= 0.0001  25 = 0.000004) or percentage uncertainty in 𝑇 (=

0.0004 %) ✓
𝑙 ∝ 𝑇 2 so (percentage) uncertainty in 𝑙 = double the (percentage) uncertainty in 𝑇 2 (=
0.000008 or 0.0008 %) ✓
Detectable change = 0.000008  9.81 = 0.000078 N Kg−1 ✓ Allow 1 sf
{This treats the change in the time measurement as an error. The same rules apply as the
maths is looking for the change in one value caused by a change in another.}
Allow alternative routes:
E.g Attempts to calculate 𝑔 for 𝑇 = 24.9999 s or 25.0001 s ✓ Correct 𝑔 found ✓ Subtracts
9.81 to find answer for change in 𝑔 ✓
Or Uses 𝑔 𝑇 2 = constant (6131.25) or uses ratios ✓ Correct g for 24.9999 s or 25.0001 s ✓
Subtracts 9.81 to find change in 𝑔 ✓ (3)

(iii) Any two marks from the following:

Use of equation to deduce pendulum length = 150 m ✓
Concludes that length will be impracticably / too long ✓ OWTTE e.g. too big / large

Or Mentions that damping effects and the long time period ✓

Oscillations may die away too quickly to allow measurement of 𝑇 ✓

Or Need to make measurements over a long time to detect the change in time period ✓
So survey would a take long time ✓ (2)

(iv) Quote formula for a mass-spring system (𝑇 = 2𝜋√𝑚/𝑘) ✓

Identifies that period is independent of 𝑔 or 𝑔 is not in the formula for period of a mass
spring system or depends only on 𝑚 and 𝑘 ✓ (2)
4.05 PPQ answers Page 4 of 4 Unit 4 classwork

6. (Number-crunching approach first)

4 4
𝑉= 𝜋 𝑟3 = 𝜋 × (939 × 103 ÷ 2)3 = 4.34 × 1017 m3 {Diameter ≠ radius!}
3 3

𝑚 = 𝜌 𝑉 = 2.16 × 103 × 4.34 × 1017 = 9.36 × 1020 kg

𝑔 = 𝐺𝑀/𝑅2 = 6.67 × 10-11 × 9.36 × 1020 ÷ (9.39 × 103 ÷ 2)2 = 0.28 N kg-1
OR
(Algebra before number-crunching)
4 4
𝑉 = 𝜋 𝑟3 so 𝑚 = 𝜋 𝜌 𝑟 3
3 3
4
𝐺𝑀 𝐺 𝜋 𝜌 𝑟3
3 4
𝑔= = = 𝜋𝐺𝜌𝑟 {Useful in certain multiple-choice questions}
𝑟2 𝑟2 3

4
𝑔= 𝜋 × 6.67 × 10-11 × 2.16 × 103 × (939 × 103 ÷ 2) = 0.28 N kg-1
3

Practical improvement
1(a) log 𝑇 = log 𝐴 + 𝑛 log 𝑑 or log 𝑇 = 𝑛 log 𝑑 + log 𝐴 seen anywhere ✓
𝑛 (= gradient) = 0.49 ✓
log 𝐴 = intercept ✓
𝐴 = 103.68 = 4790 ✓ Total 4

2. (ln 𝛥𝜃 = ln 𝐴 − 𝐵 𝑡 so) plot a graph of ln 𝛥𝜃 on the y-axis against 𝑡 on the x-axis.

Answer must specify which axis (allow a sketch graph with labelled axes) ✓
Expect a straight-line graph which does not pass through the origin ✓
With a negative gradient (accept downwards slope) ✓
Ignore comments on sign of intercept: this could be either positive (if 𝐴 > 0) or negative
(if 𝐴 < 0) Total 3

3. (ln 𝑅 = ln 𝐴 + 𝑘 𝑑 so) plot a graph of ln 𝑅 on the y-axis against 𝑑 on the x-axis.

Answer must specify which axis (allow a sketch graph with labelled axes) ✓
Expect a straight-line graph which does not pass through the origin ✓
With a positive gradient (accept upwards slope) ✓
Ignore comments on sign of intercept: this could be either positive (if 𝐴 > 0) or negative
(if 𝐴 < 0) Total 3

4. (log 𝐿 = log 𝐴 − 𝑛 log 𝑑 so) plot a graph of log 𝐿 on the y-axis against log 𝑑 on the x-axis.
Answer must specify which axis (allow a sketch graph with labelled axes)
Allow use of ln 𝐿/𝑑 instead of log 𝐿/𝑑 ✓
With a negative gradient (accept downwards slope) ✓
Ignore comments on sign of intercept: this could be either positive (if 𝐴 > 0) or negative
(if 𝐴 < 0) Total 3