Question 1

Because of the tidal force between Earth and the Moon,

Accepted Answer

The tidal force between Earth and the Moon causes Earth's rotation to slow down, the Moon to move away from Earth, and the Moon's orbital period to increase. The Moon's rotational period is synchronized with its orbital period due to tidal locking, so it remains constant relative to its orbit.

Question 2

How much stronger is the gravitational force of the Sun on Earth compared to the gravitational force of the Sun on Pluto? Note that Pluto's semimajor axis is 40 AU, and Pluto's mass is 0.002 times the mass of Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How much stronger is the gravitational force...

Question 3

The distance between Earth and the Moon

Accepted Answer

The distance between Earth and the Moon is slowly increasing due to tidal interactions, which cause the Moon to move away from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year.

Question 4

Explain why the gravitational force an object experiences from Earth can be considered to come from the center of Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the gravitational force an object...

Question 5

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing because of

Accepted Answer

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing due to tidal forces from the Moon. These forces cause the Earth's rotation to slow down, transferring angular momentum to the Moon and causing it to gradually move away from Earth.

Question 6

Show that the gravitational pull on Earth from the Sun is about 200 times the gravitational pull on Earth from the Moon.For reference, Moon's mass is 7.3 *10 ²² kg, the Sun's mass is 2 *10³⁰ kg, the Earth-Moon distance is 3.8 * 10⁵ km, and the Earth-Sun distance is 1.5 *10⁸ km.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Show that the gravitational pull on Earth...

Question 7

How does the force of gravity between the Sun and Mercury compare to the gravitational force between the Sun and Earth? Note that the semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit is 0.4 AU, and Mercury's mass is 0.06 times the mass of Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the force of gravity between...

Question 8

________ may have been instrumental in shaping daily interactions between Earth's land and oceans, where the chemistry needed to develop life may have occurred.

Accepted Answer

Earth's Moon is believed to have played a significant role in shaping the interactions between Earth's land and oceans, influencing tides and possibly creating conditions conducive to the development of life.

Question 9

Earth's rotation rate is slowing because of

Accepted Answer

Tidal forces from the Moon create frictional effects that gradually slow down Earth's rotation over time.

Question 10

Newton's law of gravitation says that gravity is a mutually attractive force.Explain the following observation: A small object is dropped on Earth and we see it fall toward Earth.However, we do not observe Earth moving toward the object.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Newton's law of gravitation says that gravity...

Question 11

Saturn has 95 times the mass of Earth, and its atmosphere extends outward 9.5 times Earth's radius.How does the acceleration due to gravity at the edge of Saturn's atmosphere compare to that on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Saturn has 95 times the mass of...

Question 12

Because of tidal forces, which type of eclipse will become impossible first?

Accepted Answer

Tidal forces are causing the Moon to slowly move away from Earth, which will eventually make total solar eclipses impossible as the Moon will appear smaller in the sky and no longer completely cover the Sun.

Question 13

How would the acceleration due to gravity on a planet that is 16 times as massive as Earth and 4 times its radius compare to the acceleration of gravity on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would the acceleration due to gravity...

Question 14

Because of tidal forces, for every ________ time(s) it rotates on its axis, Mercury revolves around the Sun ________ time(s).

Accepted Answer

Mercury has a 3:2 spin-orbit resonance, meaning it rotates three times on its axis for every two revolutions around the Sun.

Question 15

The Roche limit

Accepted Answer

The Roche limit is the distance at which a planet's tidal forces overcome the self-gravity of an object, potentially causing it to disintegrate.

Question 16

Mars has about one-tenth the mass of Earth and half Earth's radius.By what numerical factor does the acceleration of gravity on Mars compare to that on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mars has about one-tenth the mass of...

Question 17

Which of the statements below is true about the Roche limit of a giant planet?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the statements below is true...

Question 18

Is there a difference in your weight when measured on top of a mountain 1,000 meters above sea level and when measured in a classroom 10 meters above sea level?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is there a difference in your weight...

Question 19

When two galaxies collide long streams of stars can be observed.These "tails" are caused by

Accepted Answer

Tidal forces, which arise from the gravitational interaction between the two galaxies, stretch and distort the galaxies, creating long streams of stars known as tidal tails.

Question 20

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between being weightless and...

Quiz 4: Gravity and Orbits

Because of the tidal force between Earth and the Moon,

How much stronger is the gravitational force of the Sun on Earth compared to the gravitational force of the Sun on Pluto? Note that Pluto's semimajor axis is 40 AU, and Pluto's mass is 0.002 times the mass of Earth.

The distance between Earth and the Moon

Explain why the gravitational force an object experiences from Earth can be considered to come from the center of Earth.

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing because of

Show that the gravitational pull on Earth from the Sun is about 200 times the gravitational pull on Earth from the Moon.For reference, Moon's mass is 7.3 10 ²² kg, the Sun's mass is 2 10³⁰ kg, the Earth-Moon distance is 3.8 * 10⁵ km, and the Earth-Sun distance is 1.5 *10⁸ km.

How does the force of gravity between the Sun and Mercury compare to the gravitational force between the Sun and Earth? Note that the semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit is 0.4 AU, and Mercury's mass is 0.06 times the mass of Earth.

________ may have been instrumental in shaping daily interactions between Earth's land and oceans, where the chemistry needed to develop life may have occurred.

Earth's rotation rate is slowing because of

Newton's law of gravitation says that gravity is a mutually attractive force.Explain the following observation: A small object is dropped on Earth and we see it fall toward Earth.However, we do not observe Earth moving toward the object.

Saturn has 95 times the mass of Earth, and its atmosphere extends outward 9.5 times Earth's radius.How does the acceleration due to gravity at the edge of Saturn's atmosphere compare to that on Earth?

Because of tidal forces, which type of eclipse will become impossible first?

How would the acceleration due to gravity on a planet that is 16 times as massive as Earth and 4 times its radius compare to the acceleration of gravity on Earth?

Because of tidal forces, for every time(s) it rotates on its axis, Mercury revolves around the Sun time(s) .

The Roche limit

Mars has about one-tenth the mass of Earth and half Earth's radius.By what numerical factor does the acceleration of gravity on Mars compare to that on Earth?

Which of the statements below is true about the Roche limit of a giant planet?

Is there a difference in your weight when measured on top of a mountain 1,000 meters above sea level and when measured in a classroom 10 meters above sea level?

When two galaxies collide long streams of stars can be observed.These "tails" are caused by

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

Quiz 4: Gravity and Orbits

Because of the tidal force between Earth and the Moon,

How much stronger is the gravitational force of the Sun on Earth compared to the gravitational force of the Sun on Pluto? Note that Pluto's semimajor axis is 40 AU, and Pluto's mass is 0.002 times the mass of Earth.

The distance between Earth and the Moon

Explain why the gravitational force an object experiences from Earth can be considered to come from the center of Earth.

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing because of

Show that the gravitational pull on Earth from the Sun is about 200 times the gravitational pull on Earth from the Moon.For reference, Moon's mass is 7.3 *10 22 kg, the Sun's mass is 2 *1030 kg, the Earth-Moon distance is 3.8 * 105 km, and the Earth-Sun distance is 1.5 *108 km.

How does the force of gravity between the Sun and Mercury compare to the gravitational force between the Sun and Earth? Note that the semimajor axis of Mercury's orbit is 0.4 AU, and Mercury's mass is 0.06 times the mass of Earth.

________ may have been instrumental in shaping daily interactions between Earth's land and oceans, where the chemistry needed to develop life may have occurred.

Earth's rotation rate is slowing because of

Newton's law of gravitation says that gravity is a mutually attractive force.Explain the following observation: A small object is dropped on Earth and we see it fall toward Earth.However, we do not observe Earth moving toward the object.

Saturn has 95 times the mass of Earth, and its atmosphere extends outward 9.5 times Earth's radius.How does the acceleration due to gravity at the edge of Saturn's atmosphere compare to that on Earth?

Because of tidal forces, which type of eclipse will become impossible first?

How would the acceleration due to gravity on a planet that is 16 times as massive as Earth and 4 times its radius compare to the acceleration of gravity on Earth?

Because of tidal forces, for every ________ time(s) it rotates on its axis, Mercury revolves around the Sun ________ time(s) .

The Roche limit

Mars has about one-tenth the mass of Earth and half Earth's radius.By what numerical factor does the acceleration of gravity on Mars compare to that on Earth?

Which of the statements below is true about the Roche limit of a giant planet?

Is there a difference in your weight when measured on top of a mountain 1,000 meters above sea level and when measured in a classroom 10 meters above sea level?

When two galaxies collide long streams of stars can be observed.These "tails" are caused by

Explain the difference between being weightless and being in free fall.

Show that the gravitational pull on Earth from the Sun is about 200 times the gravitational pull on Earth from the Moon.For reference, Moon's mass is 7.3 10 ²² kg, the Sun's mass is 2 10³⁰ kg, the Earth-Moon distance is 3.8 * 10⁵ km, and the Earth-Sun distance is 1.5 *10⁸ km.

Because of tidal forces, for every time(s) it rotates on its axis, Mercury revolves around the Sun time(s) .