Question 1

According to the figure below, the approximate amount of time between two high tides at a given location is about

Accepted Answer

A)   3 hours.
B)   8 hours.
C)   6 hours.
D)   12 hours.
E)   24 hours.F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 2

If we wanted to increase the Hubble Space Telescope's altitude above Earth and keep it in a stable orbit, we also would need to

Accepted Answer

A)   increase its orbital speed.
B)   increase its weight.
C)   decrease its weight.
D)   decrease its orbital speed.
E)   increase its mass.F) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Each part of Earth pulls on the object b...

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)   It is about equal to the radius of the planet.
B)   It is the closest to the planet that moons normally are found.
C)   It is the closest to the planet that rings will be found.
D)   It is the farthest from the planet that moons normally are found.
E)   Because they have no solid surfaces, giant planets do not have a Roche limit.F) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 5

When one object is tidally locked to the larger object it is orbiting, it

Accepted Answer

A)   will be destroyed by tidal forces.
B)   will be ejected from its orbit soon after.
C)   experiences 2 high tides at every location per single rotation.
D)   will have increased self-gravity, making it close to a perfect sphere.
E)   rotates exactly once during each orbit.F) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 6

According to the figure below, the approximate amount of time between a high tide and a low tide at a given location is about

Accepted Answer

A)   3 hours.
B)   8 hours.
C)   6 hours.
D)   12 hours.
E)   24 hours.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 7

According to the figure below, neap tides occur when the lunar and solar tides ________, resulting in ________ tides.

Accepted Answer

A)   add; above-average
B)   partially cancel out; above-average
C)   add; below-average
D)   partially cancel out; below-average
E)   completely cancel out; noF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A)   1; 1
B)   2; 3
C)   3; 2
D)   10; 1
E)   20; 1F) All of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 9

Two rocks (call them S and T)  are a distance of 50 km from one another in empty space.Rock S has 20 times the mass of rock T.Considering only their mutual gravitational force, which rock will accelerate faster in response to gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)   rock S
B)   rock T
C)   Both rocks will have the same acceleration.
D)   Neither rock will accelerate.
E)   Not enough information is available to answer.F) C) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 10

If you have two moons that have the same radius, but Moon A is denser and has 2 times the mass of Moon B, how do their escape velocities from their respective surfaces compare?

Accepted Answer

A)   Moon A has an escape velocity that is 1.4 times larger than Moon B.
B)   Moon A has an escape velocity that is 1.4 times smaller than Moon B.
C)   Moon A has an escape velocity that is 2 times smaller than Moon B.
D)   Moon A has an escape velocity that is 2 times larger than Moon B.
E)   Because gravity affects all masses the same, the escape velocities are the same.F) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 11

Explain what the Roche limit is and how it is related to rings around giant planets.

Accepted Answer

The Roche limit is the distance from a l...

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A)   partial lunar
B)   total lunar
C)   partial solar
D)   total solar
E)   annular solarF) All of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 13

Explain the origin of tidal forces on Earth due to the Moon.

Accepted Answer

Because Earth is a real object with size...

Question 14

Between any two objects with mass, the force of gravity is always

Accepted Answer

A)   different for each mass.
B)   the same value, regardless of the masses involved.
C)   attractive.
D)   a fictitious force.
E)   repulsive.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 15

The Hubble Space Telescope orbits at an altitude of 600 km above Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit, what is its velocity? For reference, Earth's radius is 6,400 km and Earth's mass is 6* 1024 kg.

Accepted Answer

A)   240,000 m/s
B)   7,500 m/s
C)   51,000 m/s
D)   64,000 m/s
E)   You also must know the mass of the Hubble Space Telescope to determine its speed.F) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

For which of the following orbital velocities, V, is the orbit unbound?

Accepted Answer

A) V just below escape velocity B) V = circular velocity C) V >\gt> escape velocity D) V <\lt< escape velocity E) V = 0 F) A) and B) G) A) and C)

Question 17

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing because of

Accepted Answer

A)   the expansion of the universe.
B)   the expansion of the Solar System.
C)   tidal forces from the Moon.
D)   tidal forces from the Moon and Sun.
E)   dark energy.F) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 18

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 *109 m.Based on this information, what is Saturn's mass? For reference, Earth's mass is
6 * 1024 kg.

Accepted Answer

A)   290 MEarth
B)   130 MEarth
C)   90 MEarth
D)   40 MEarth
E)   4 MEarthF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 19

According to the figure below, spring tides occur when the lunar and solar tides ________, resulting in ________ tides.

Accepted Answer

A)   add; above-average
B)   partially cancel out; above-average
C)   add; below-average
D)   partially cancel out; below-average
E)   completely cancel out; noF) None of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 20

Explain why Saturn's rings do not clump together to form a moon.

Accepted Answer

Saturn's rings orbit within th...

Exam 4: Gravity and Orbits

According to the figure below, spring tides occur when the lunar and solar tides ________, resulting in ________ tides.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedEach part of Earth pulls on the object b...View AnswerShow Answer

Between any two objects with mass, the force of gravity is always

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If you have two moons that have the same radius, but Moon A is denser and has 2 times the mass of Moon B, how do their escape velocities from their respective surfaces compare?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Hubble Space Telescope orbits at an altitude of 600 km above Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit, what is its velocity? For reference, Earth's radius is 6,400 km and Earth's mass is 6* 1024 kg.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the figure below, the approximate amount of time between two high tides at a given location is about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two rocks (call them S and T) are a distance of 50 km from one another in empty space.Rock S has 20 times the mass of rock T.Considering only their mutual gravitational force, which rock will accelerate faster in response to gravity?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the figure below, the approximate amount of time between a high tide and a low tide at a given location is about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain why Saturn's rings do not clump together to form a moon.

Correct AnswerverifiedSaturn's rings orbit within th...View AnswerShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The distance between Earth and the Moon is increasing because of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

For which of the following orbital velocities, V, is the orbit unbound?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the origin of tidal forces on Earth due to the Moon.

Correct AnswerverifiedBecause Earth is a real object with size...View AnswerShow Answer

If we wanted to increase the Hubble Space Telescope's altitude above Earth and keep it in a stable orbit, we also would need to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When one object is tidally locked to the larger object it is orbiting, it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain what the Roche limit is and how it is related to rings around giant planets.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Roche limit is the distance from a l...View AnswerShow Answer

According to the figure below, neap tides occur when the lunar and solar tides ________, resulting in ________ tides.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 *109 m.Based on this information, what is Saturn's mass? For reference, Earth's mass is 6 * 1024 kg.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the figure below, spring tides occur when the lunar and solar tides , resulting in tides.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Each part of Earth pulls on the object b...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The Hubble Space Telescope orbits at an altitude of 600 km above Earth's surface.Assuming it is in a stable circular orbit, what is its velocity? For reference, Earth's radius is 6,400 km and Earth's mass is 6* 10²⁴ kg.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Saturn's rings orbit within th...
View Answer

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

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Because Earth is a real object with size...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The Roche limit is the distance from a l...
View Answer

According to the figure below, neap tides occur when the lunar and solar tides , resulting in tides.

Correct Answer
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Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has an orbital period of 16 days and a semimajor axis of 1.2 10⁹ m.Based on this information, what is Saturn's mass? For reference, Earth's mass is 6 10²⁴ kg.

Correct Answer
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