The Student Room Group

physics question gravitational field

hi, please could I have some help on question 7bii and biii of this booklet (page 11-12)? For bii, I'm not sure why the change in potential would be 2.1*10^7, I read of the graph and at 2R, the potential is 3.2*10^7 and at infinity, potential is zero so surely the change is just 3.2*10^7 ?
Also for part iii, why would the meteorite get faster because of the moon?
paper: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/pdf-pages/?pdf=https%3A%2F%2Fpmt.physicsandmathstutor.com%2Fdownload%2FPhysics%2FA-level%2FTopic-Qs%2FCAIE%2F13-Gravitational-Fields%2FSet-F%2FGravitation.pdf
thanks!

Reply 1

Original post
by anonymous56754
hi, please could I have some help on question 7bii and biii of this booklet (page 11-12)? For bii, I'm not sure why the change in potential would be 2.1*10^7, I read of the graph and at 2R, the potential is 3.2*10^7 and at infinity, potential is zero so surely the change is just 3.2*10^7 ?
Also for part iii, why would the meteorite get faster because of the moon?
paper: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/pdf-pages/?pdf=https%3A%2F%2Fpmt.physicsandmathstutor.com%2Fdownload%2FPhysics%2FA-level%2FTopic-Qs%2FCAIE%2F13-Gravitational-Fields%2FSet-F%2FGravitation.pdf
thanks!


Hi, i would love to help you with your assignment.

Reply 2

Original post
by anonymous56754
hi, please could I have some help on question 7bii and biii of this booklet (page 11-12)? For bii, I'm not sure why the change in potential would be 2.1*10^7, I read of the graph and at 2R, the potential is 3.2*10^7 and at infinity, potential is zero so surely the change is just 3.2*10^7 ?
Also for part iii, why would the meteorite get faster because of the moon?
paper: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/pdf-pages/?pdf=https%3A%2F%2Fpmt.physicsandmathstutor.com%2Fdownload%2FPhysics%2FA-level%2FTopic-Qs%2FCAIE%2F13-Gravitational-Fields%2FSet-F%2FGravitation.pdf
thanks!


For (b)(ii), maybe you want to reread the question. :smile:

Reply 3

Original post
by Eimmanuel
For (b)(ii), maybe you want to reread the question. :smile:

I've reread the question but I'm still unsure, is it maybe got to do with the potential at the surface of the earth (6.3*10^7) but then the change isn't 2.1*10^7?

Reply 4

Original post
by anonymous56754
I've reread the question but I'm still unsure, is it maybe got to do with the potential at the surface of the earth (6.3*10^7) but then the change isn't 2.1*10^7?

The question states that “when it is at a distance of 2R above the Earth’s surface”, 2R above the Earth’s surface means the meteorite is at r = 2R + R = 3R from the centre of the Earth.
I believe it is a basic English sentence. :smile:

You should read the gravitational potential at …. instead of 2R.

Reply 5

Original post
by Eimmanuel
The question states that “when it is at a distance of 2R above the Earth’s surface”, 2R above the Earth’s surface means the meteorite is at r = 2R + R = 3R from the centre of the Earth.
I believe it is a basic English sentence. :smile:
You should read the gravitational potential at …. instead of 2R.

I’m so sorry, thank you!
I was also confused on why the meteorite gets faster because of the moon?

Reply 6

Original post
by anonymous56754
I’m so sorry, thank you!
I was also confused on why the meteorite gets faster because of the moon?

Gravitational potential is a scalar quantity. When we consider the Earth and Moon, we need to find the gravitational potential due to the Earth and Moon, this will make the gravitational potential more negative or increase the absolute value of the gravitational potential and increase the change in GPE which "translates" into greater speed.

Reply 7

Original post
by Eimmanuel
Gravitational potential is a scalar quantity. When we consider the Earth and Moon, we need to find the gravitational potential due to the Earth and Moon, this will make the gravitational potential more negative or increase the absolute value of the gravitational potential and increase the change in GPE which "translates" into greater speed.

is this because gpe=1/2mv2?

Reply 8

Original post
by anonymous56754
is this because gpe=1/2mv2?


Indeed, I apologise that the last part of the previous explanation did not use conservation of energy to make the link between change in GPE and change in KE:
By conservation of energy, loss of GPE = gain in KE.

Quick Reply