Gravity
What variables affect the gravitational force between two objects?
The masses of the objects and the distance between them
The sensation of weightlessness is caused by a lowering of which force?
Normal force
Artificial satellites orbit the Earth in paths of which shape?
A circle
What is the name of the point in an elliptical orbit where the satellite is closest to the body being orbited?
Perigee
Mars' moon Phobos orbits the planet more closely than its other moon, Deimos. Which of the two moons has a longer period?
Deimos has the longer period.
The gravitational force between a satellite and the body it orbits produces what center-seeking force?
Centripetal force
Once astronauts escape the Earth's atmosphere, is their weight then equal to zero? (YES/NO)
NO
The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes. Is its orbit considered HIGH, MEDIUM, or LOW?
It is a low orbit.
What is the name of the point in an elliptical orbit where the satellite is furthest from the body being orbited?
Apogee
If the radius of the earth was halved with no change in mass, would your weight increase, decrease, or stay the same?
Your weight would increase, because ag or "g" would increase.
What scientist developed the Law of Universal Gravitation?
Isaac Newton
Give an example of a situation where your apparent weight might be bigger than your actual weight.
Accelerating upward in a vessel such as elevator, car, roller coaster, etc.
If an artificial satellite maintains its position above the same point on the Earth at all times, its orbit is said to be what?
Geosynchronous
Where is a body being orbited by a satellite in an elliptical path located relative to the ellipse?
Focus point
A 90-kg astronaut weighs 198 lbs on Earth. The moon's gravity is about one-sixth that of Earth. What is the weight of the astronaut on the moon? What is the mass of the astronaut on the moon?
33 lbs; 90 kg
The gravitational acceleration (ag or "g") of a free-falling object depends on its mass (TRUE/FALSE).
FALSE
Where do you weigh the most:
A. At the summit of Mt. Everest
B. At Waikiki Beach
C. In Room 213 of Norwin High School
B. At Waikiki Beach
Why do man-made (artificial) satellites maintain constant speed and distance from the bodies they orbit?
Man-made satellites maintain constant speed and distance because they have circular orbits.
A satellite in elliptical orbit travels slowest when it is in what position relative to the body it orbits?
What is the apogee?
If the mass of a moon were tripled, but its distance from its planet remained the same, the gravitational force (Fg) between the moon and its planet would increase by what factor?
Fg would increase by three times or triple.
What is the symbol for the universal gravitational constant?
G (must be capitalized)
Your apparent weight will decrease with the sudden jolt of a downward elevator, and you may feel temporarily weightless. How will your apparent weight feel once the elevator reaches constant velocity? (TOO BIG/TOO SMALL/JUST RIGHT)
JUST RIGHT
What keeps the International Space Station from falling to the Earth?
The ISS has a sufficient tangential velocity to maintain its orbit and continually "fall around" the Earth.
Satellites that orbit in elliptical paths...
A. Maintain constant speed and constant distance to the body it orbits;
B. Constantly change speed and change distance to the orbited bodies;
C. Constantly change speed while maintaining the same distance to the orbited bodies.
B. Constantly change speed and change distance to the orbited bodies;
If the center-to-center distance between Venus and the Sun were halved, the gravitational force (Fg) between Venus and the Sun would change by what factor?
The gravitational force would increase by a factor of four, or quadruple.