Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
According to Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, what happens to the gravitational force when the mass of two objects doubles?
It quadruples.
What would happen to Earth’s orbit if the Sun’s mass suddenly decreased?
Earth would move to a larger orbit or escape the Solar System.
Which gravitational interaction is primarily responsible for Earth’s tides?
Earth-Moon gravity.
What keeps artificial satellites in orbit around Earth?
The balance between gravity and the satellite’s speed.
What process powers the Sun’s energy output?
Nuclear fusion.
What happens to gravitational force if the distance between two objects triples?
It becomes 1/9 as strong.
Why do planets closer to the Sun have shorter orbital periods?
They experience stronger gravitational force and have shorter distances to travel.
What are spring tides, and when do they occur?
The strongest tides, occurring during New and Full Moons.
How do spacecraft use gravitational assists?
To increase speed without using fuel.
What phase of the stellar lifecycle is the Sun currently in?
Main Sequence.
What keeps planets in elliptical orbits around the Sun?
The balance between the Sun’s gravity and the planet’s inertia.
How does Jupiter’s gravity affect the asteroid belt?
It prevents the formation of a planet in the asteroid belt.
What would happen to Earth’s tides if the Moon were twice as massive?
Tides would be stronger.
What would happen to seasons if Earth’s orbit became more elliptical?
Seasons would become more extreme.
What happens when a star becomes a Red Giant?
It expands as it burns fuel and eventually cools.
What force is primarily responsible for the formation of galaxies?
Gravity pulls matter together to form galactic structures.
What happens to a planet’s orbital speed as it gets closer to the Sun?
It increases.
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?
The Moon’s rotation matches its orbital period around Earth.
What causes planets to maintain their orbits instead of flying off into space?
The Sun’s gravity.
What is the final stage in the Sun’s life cycle?
It becomes a White Dwarf.
How does gravitational force affect the motion of black holes?
Gravity is so strong in black holes that not even light can escape, significantly warping space-time.
What is the relationship between orbital eccentricity and planetary climate variations?
Higher orbital eccentricity leads to more extreme seasonal changes due to variations in distance from the Sun.
How does the Sun’s gravity influence Earth’s tides?
The Sun's gravity enhances or reduces tidal effects depending on its alignment with the Moon (spring and neap tides).
How do astronauts experience weightlessness in orbit?
They are in free fall around Earth, continuously falling but never hitting the surface due to Earth's curvature.
What role does the Sun’s magnetic field play in solar storms?
It influences solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can impact Earth's communication systems and power grids.