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Critical Thinking Items

PhysicsCritical Thinking Items
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Critical Thinking Items

7.1 Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

11.

In the figure, the time it takes for the planet to go from A to B, C to D, and E to F is the same.

no alt text

Compare the areas A1, A2, and A3 in terms of size.

  1. A1 ≠ A2 ≠ A3
  2. A1 = A2 = A3
  3. A1 = A2 > A3
  4. A1 > A2 = A3
12.

A moon orbits a planet in an elliptical orbit. The foci of the ellipse are 50, 000 km apart. The closest approach of the moon to the planet is 400, 000 km. What is the length of the major axis of the orbit?

  1. 400, 000 km
  2. 450, 000, km
  3. 800, 000 km
  4. 850, 000 km
13.

In this figure, if f1 represents the parent body, which set of statements holds true?

no alt text
  1. Area X < Area Y; the speed is greater for area X.
  2. Area X > Area Y; the speed is greater for area Y.
  3. Area X = Area Y; the speed is greater for area X.
  4. Area X = Area Y; the speed is greater for area Y.

7.2 Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and Einstein's Theory of General Relativity

14.

Rhea, with a radius of 7.63×105 m, is the second-largest moon of the planet Saturn. If the mass of Rhea is 2.31×1021 kg, what is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of this moon?

  1. 2.65×10−1 m/s
  2. 2.02×105 m/s
  3. 2.65×10−1 m/s2
  4. 2.02×105 m/s2
15.

Earth has a mass of 5.971×1024 kg and a radius of 6.371×106 m. Use the data to check the value of the gravitational constant.

  1. 6.66× 10 −11   N · m k g 2 , 6.66× 10 −11   N · m k g 2 , it matches the value of the gravitational constant G.
  2. 1.05× 10 −17   N · m k g 2 , 1.05× 10 −17   N · m k g 2 , it matches the value of the gravitational constant G.
  3. 6.66× 10 −11   N ·  m 2 k g 2 , 6.66× 10 −11   N ·  m 2 k g 2 , it matches the value of the gravitational constant G.
  4. 1.05× 10 −17   N ·  m 2 k g 2 , 1.05× 10 −17   N ·  m 2 k g 2 , it matches the value of the gravitational constant G.
16.

The orbit of the planet Mercury has a period of 88.0 days and an average radius of 5.791×1010 m. What is the mass of the sun?

  1. 3.43×1019 kg
  2. 1.99×1030 kg
  3. 2.56×1029 kg
  4. 1.48×1040 kg
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