Good Science NSW Stage 4
Worksheet
2.6 Gravitational forces
1
Draw field lines on the diagram of Earth below to represent the Earth's gravitational forces.
Label the areas where the gravitational force is strongest and where it is weakest.
2
Comparing Gravitational Field Strength - A satellite orbits Earth at a distance of 400 km
above the surface, and another satellite orbits at 800 km above the surface.
a. Which satellite experiences a stronger gravitational pull? Explain why.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
b. If the lower satellite is moved to the higher orbit, how will its orbital speed change? Explain
your answer.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
© Matilda Education Australia
1 of 2
3
Effect of Mass on Gravitational Force and Orbital Speed - Imagine two planets: Planet A
has twice the mass of Earth, and Planet B has the same mass as Earth. Both planets have a
satellite orbiting around them from an equal distance.
a. Construct a diagram to represent the information above.
b. Compare the gravitational pull experienced by a satellite orbiting Planet A and one orbiting
Planet B.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c. How would the speed of a satellite orbiting Planet A compare to that of a satellite orbiting
Planet B? Justify your answer using the concept of gravitational field strength.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
© Matilda Education Australia
2 of 2