Circular Motion and Gravitation: Master Physics Concepts with Interactive Quizzes

Question 1

In uniform circular motion, the force that acts towards the center of the circular path is called:

Accepted Answer

Centripetal force

Answer

Centrifugal force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Electrostatic force

Question 2

According to Kepler's third law of planetary motion, the square of the period of a planet's orbit around the sun is proportional to:

Accepted Answer

The cube of its semi-major axis

Answer

The square of its semi-minor axis

Answer

The planet's mass

Answer

The sun's mass

Question 3

The force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to:

Accepted Answer

The masses of the objects

Answer

The distance between their centers of mass

Answer

The square of the distance between their centers of mass

Answer

The product of their charges

Question 4

Which of the following cannot act as a centripetal force?

Accepted Answer

Air resistance

Answer

Tension in a string

Answer

Friction between a tire and the road

Answer

Gravitational force

Question 5

A roller coaster car moves along a circular track with a radius of 20 meters. Calculate the centripetal force required for a speed of 10 m/s.

Accepted Answer

200 N

Answer

100 N

Answer

500 N

Answer

1000 N

Question 6

The period of a planet's orbit around the sun is 100 days. If the planet's distance from the sun is doubled, what is its new orbital period?

Accepted Answer

800 days

Answer

200 days

Answer

400 days

Answer

1600 days

Question 7

An object moving in a circular path with a constant velocity experiences a force directed towards the center of the circle. This force is known as:

Accepted Answer

Centripetal force

Answer

Radial force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Magnetic force

Question 8

The force of attraction between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the:

Accepted Answer

Square of the distance between them

Answer

Cube of the distance between them

Answer

Their relative velocities

Answer

Their densities

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of uniform circular motion?

Accepted Answer

Variable acceleration

Answer

Constant speed

Answer

Constant direction

Answer

Circular path

Question 10

An object moves in a circular path experiencing a centripetal force of 10 N. If the mass of the object is 2 kg, what is its centripetal acceleration?

Accepted Answer

4 m/s²

Answer

2 m/s²

Answer

5 m/s²

Answer

10 m/s²

Question 11

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the period of a simple pendulum?

Accepted Answer

Amplitude of the swing

Answer

Length of the pendulum

Answer

Mass of the pendulum bob

Answer

Local gravitational acceleration

Question 12

What is the period of an object moving in uniform circular motion, defined as the time it takes to complete one full revolution?

Accepted Answer

The time it takes the object to complete one full revolution

Answer

The time it takes the object to move from one point to another on its circular path

Answer

The time it takes the object to reach its maximum speed

Answer

The time it takes the object to stop moving

Question 13

Which of Kepler's laws of planetary motion states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Third law

Answer

First law

Answer

Second law

Answer

Fourth law

Question 14

What is the formula for calculating the centripetal acceleration of an object moving in a circular path of radius 'r' at a speed 'v'?

Accepted Answer

v^2/r

Answer

v/r

Answer

r/v^2

Answer

r/v

Question 15

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the period of an object in uniform circular motion?

Accepted Answer

The gravitational force acting on the object

Answer

The mass of the object

Answer

The radius of the circular path

Answer

The speed of the object

Question 16

What is the SI unit of the gravitational constant, used to quantify the strength of gravitational interactions?

Accepted Answer

Newton-meter squared per kilogram squared

Answer

Meter per kilogram squared

Answer

Kilogram per meter squared

Answer

Newton-meter per kilogram

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the trajectory of a projectile launched with an initial velocity, neglecting air resistance?

Accepted Answer

A parabola

Answer

A straight line

Answer

A hyperbola

Answer

An ellipse

Question 18

In the context of celestial bodies, what force keeps the Moon in its orbit around the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Frictional force

Answer

Tension force

Answer

Normal force

Question 19

How does Newton's law of universal gravitation affect the movement of celestial bodies in space?

Accepted Answer

Newton's law of universal gravitation keeps celestial bodies in orbit around larger bodies.

Answer

Celestial bodies move in straight lines due to Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Answer

Celestial bodies move at a constant speed because of Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Answer

Newton's law of universal gravitation has no impact on the motion of celestial bodies.

Question 20

An object moving in a circular path at a constant speed is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Centripetal force towards the center

Answer

Centrifugal force away from the center

Question 21

In uniform circular motion, the acceleration of the object is:

Accepted Answer

Directed towards the center

Question 22

Kepler's first law of planetary motion states that:

Accepted Answer

Planets move in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus

Answer

A planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis

Question 23

According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force between two objects is:

Accepted Answer

Directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Answer

Directly proportional to their masses and directly proportional to the distance between them

Question 24

A satellite is orbiting Earth at a constant speed. If the distance from the satellite to Earth's center is decreased by half, the satellite's speed:

Accepted Answer

Halves

Question 25

A ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a building. Which of the following forces is primarily responsible for the ball's downward acceleration?

Accepted Answer

Gravity

Question 26

A car is driving around a curved track at a constant speed. The force that keeps the car from moving in a straight line is:

Accepted Answer

Centripetal force

Question 27

Two objects with different masses but the same shape and density are dropped from the same height. Which object will reach the ground first?

Accepted Answer

Both objects will reach the ground at the same time

Answer

The less massive object

Question 28

Which of the following equations represents the formula for centripetal force?

Accepted Answer

Fc = mv^2/r

Answer

Fc = mr^2/v

Answer

Fc = mv/r

Answer

Fc = r/mv^2

Question 29

An object moving in uniform circular motion experiences what type of acceleration?

Accepted Answer

Centripetal acceleration

Answer

Tangential acceleration

Answer

Both centripetal and tangential acceleration

Answer

No acceleration

Question 30

Which force cannot act as a centripetal force?

Accepted Answer

Normal force

Answer

Tension

Answer

Friction

Answer

Gravity

Question 31

According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to which factor?

Accepted Answer

The product of their masses

Answer

The sum of their masses

Answer

The distance between them

Answer

The volume of the objects

Question 32

Which of the following scenarios demonstrates a centripetal force in action?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices provided

Answer

A roller coaster traversing a loop

Answer

A car making a turn

Answer

A satellite revolving around a planet

Question 33

In the context of uniform circular motion, in which direction does the centripetal force acting on an object point?

Accepted Answer

Toward the center of the circle

Answer

Away from the center of the circle

Answer

Tangent to the circle

Answer

Perpendicular to the circle

Question 34

Which of the following does NOT influence the orbital period of an object?

Accepted Answer

Mass of the orbiting object

Answer

Mass of the central body

Answer

Distance between the objects

Answer

Eccentricity of the orbit

Question 35

An object is launched vertically upward from the Earth's surface. At its highest point, when its velocity is zero, what force acts on the object?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force from the Earth

Answer

Zero

Answer

Gravitational force from the Earth and air resistance

Answer

Gravitational force from the Earth minus air resistance

Question 36

How can Kepler's third law be applied to calculate the orbital period of an exoplanet that transits its star?

Accepted Answer

Measure the time between successive transits and apply Kepler's third law equation: T^2 = (4π^2 / G * M) * a^3

Answer

Measure the exoplanet's mass and apply Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Answer

Measure the exoplanet's velocity and apply the centripetal force equation.

Question 37

A car travels in a circular path with a radius of 'r' at a constant speed 'v'. What is the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the car?

Accepted Answer

mv^2/r

Answer

vr/m

Answer

mv/r

Answer

mr^2/v

Question 38

A satellite of mass 'm' orbits a planet of mass 'M' in a circular path with a radius of 'r'. What is the period of the satellite's revolution?

Accepted Answer

2π√(r^3/GM)

Answer

2π√(r^2/GM)

Answer

2π√(r/GM)

Answer

2π√(GM/r)

Question 39

A projectile is launched horizontally from a height 'h' with an initial speed 'v'. What is the horizontal distance (range) the projectile travels before hitting the ground?

Accepted Answer

v√(2h/g)

Answer

v^2/g

Answer

hv/g

Answer

gh/v^2

Question 40

Two objects with masses 'm1' and 'm2' are separated by a distance 'r'. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between them?

Accepted Answer

Gm1m2/r^2

Answer

Gm2/r^2

Answer

Gm1/r^2

Answer

r^2/Gm1m2

Question 41

A space probe with a mass 'm' is in orbit around Earth. What is the minimum speed the probe needs to maintain its orbit at a distance 'r' from Earth's center?

Accepted Answer

√(GM/r)

Answer

GM/√r

Answer

√r/GM

Answer

GM√r

Question 42

Which of these is NOT a unit used to measure acceleration?

Accepted Answer

Newton

Answer

Meter per second squared

Answer

Foot per second squared

Answer

Galileo

Question 43

A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 'v'. What is the maximum height the ball reaches?

Accepted Answer

v^2/2g

Answer

2g/v^2

Answer

v/2g

Answer

2gv^2

Question 44

Which of Kepler's laws states that a planet's orbital speed is fastest when it is closest to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Second law

Answer

Third law

Answer

First law

Question 45

According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is:

Accepted Answer

Directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Answer

Directly proportional to the difference of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Answer

Inversely proportional to the product of their masses and directly proportional to the distance between them

Answer

Inversely proportional to the sum of their masses and directly proportional to the square of the distance between them

Question 46

A satellite with a mass of 1000 kg orbits Earth (mass 5.97 x 10^24 kg) in a circular path with a radius of 6.6 x 10^6 m. What is the gravitational force acting on the satellite?

Accepted Answer

6.66 x 10^3 N

Answer

3.33 x 10^3 N

Answer

1.33 x 10^4 N

Answer

2.66 x 10^4 N

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the period of a satellite's orbit?

Accepted Answer

The mass of the satellite

Answer

The mass of the planet the satellite orbits

Answer

The radius of the satellite's orbit

Answer

The eccentricity of the satellite's orbit

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a condition for uniform circular motion?

Accepted Answer

Velocity is constant

Answer

Acceleration is constant

Answer

The net force is directed towards the center

Answer

The object moves in a circle

Question 49

Which of the following provides the centripetal force for a car going around a curve?

Accepted Answer

Friction between the tires and the road

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Normal force

Answer

Air resistance

Question 50

According to Kepler's third law, the square of the period of a planet's orbit is proportional to:

Accepted Answer

The cube of the planet's average distance from the sun

Answer

The fourth power of the planet's average distance from the sun

Answer

The square of the planet's average distance from the sun

Question 51

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle of matter in the universe:

Accepted Answer

Attracts every other particle with a force that is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Answer

Repels every other particle with a force that is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the gravitational force between two objects?

Accepted Answer

The density of the objects

Answer

The distance between the objects

Answer

The presence of other objects

Answer

The masses of the objects

Question 53

A satellite of mass 100 kg orbits Earth (mass = 5.972 x 10^24 kg) in a circular orbit of radius 6.38 x 10^6 m. What is the satellite's speed?

Accepted Answer

6910 m/s

Answer

3455 m/s

Answer

13820 m/s

Answer

27640 m/s

Question 54

Which of the following is the best evidence for the existence of dark matter?

Accepted Answer

The observed rotation curves of galaxies

Answer

The expansion of the universe

Answer

The cosmic microwave background

Answer

The abundance of light elements in the universe

Question 55

What is the escape velocity from the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

11.2 km/s

Answer

29.8 km/s

Answer

1.6 km/s

Answer

9.8 m/s^2

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of the equivalence principle?

Accepted Answer

The acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects

Answer

Inertial mass and gravitational mass are equivalent

Answer

Objects in free fall follow parabolic paths

Question 57

What is the gravitational field strength at the center of a spherical planet of radius R and mass M?

Accepted Answer

-GM/R^2

Answer

GM/2R^2

Answer

-GM/2R^2

Answer

GM/R^2