Physics 9702/41 — October/November 2010

Cambridge A-Level · A Level Structured Questions · worked solutions for every part, with the mark scheme

questions

100

marks

105

minutes

Topics Gravitational Fields · Magnetic Fields · Communication · Ideal Gases · Thermodynamics · Oscillations · +7 more

Q1Gravitational FieldsFree sample

(a)

Define gravitational field strength.

(b)

An isolated star has radius $R$ . The mass of the star may be considered to be a point mass at the centre of the star.
The gravitational field strength at the surface of the star is $g_s$ .

On Fig. 1.1, sketch a graph to show the variation of the gravitational field strength of the star with distance from its centre. You should consider distances in the range $R$ to $4R$ .

Fig. 1.1

(c)

The Earth and the Moon may be considered to be spheres that are isolated in space with their masses concentrated at their centres.
The masses of the Earth and the Moon are $6.00 \times 10^{24}\ \text{kg}$ and $7.40 \times 10^{22}\ \text{kg}$ respectively.
The radius of the Earth is $R_E$ and the separation of the centres of the Earth and the Moon is $60\ R_E$ , as illustrated in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

(i)

Explain why there is a point between the Earth and the Moon at which the gravitational field strength is zero.

(ii)

Determine the distance, in terms of $R_E$ , from the centre of the Earth at which the gravitational field strength is zero.

distance = ______ $R_E$

(iii)

On the axes of Fig. 1.3, sketch a graph to show the variation of the gravitational field strength with position between the surface of the Earth and the surface of the Moon.

Fig. 1.3

The rest of this paper

11 more questions

Q2Ideal Gases · Thermodynamics11M
Q3Oscillations9M
Q4Capacitance · Electric Fields11M
Q5Magnetic Fields7M
Q6Alternating Currents · Magnetic Fields8M
Q7Quantum Physics5M
Q8Nuclear Physics8M
Q9Electronics5M
Q10Medical Physics9M
Q11Communication8M
Q12Gravitational Fields · Communication8M

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