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Gravitational Fields Questions

Q5.

(a) Explain what is meant by the gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field.

(2 marks)

(b) Use the following data to calculate the gravitational potential at the surface of the Moon.

mass of Earth = 81 × mass of Moon

radius of Earth = 3.7 × radius of Moon

gravitational potential at surface of the Earth = –63 MJ kg–1

(3 marks)

(c) Sketch a graph on the axes below to indicate how the gravitational potential varies with distance along a line outwards from the surface of the Earth to the surface of the Moon.

(3 marks)

(Total 8 marks)