plumiGravitational potential: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.7.2.3 Gravitational potential, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q04.2
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All 51 questions on Gravitational potential, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.2 (1 mark): A student suggests that, over the range of distances shown in Figure 2, the gravitational field strength due to the mass of Saturn alone is approximately consta
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.3 (1 mark): At a point P, the resultant gravitational field strength due to Saturn and Titan is zero. Determine, using the solid line in Figure 2, the distance from Saturn
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q04.4 (3 marks): The centre of Titan is 12.22 × 108 m from the centre of Saturn. Show that the gravitational potential due to the mass of Titan at a distance of 12.08 × 108 m fr
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q23 (1 mark): The diagram shows the gravitational field for a binary star system consisting of two stars X and Y of equal mass. Equipotential lines are shown as solid lines.
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.2 (1 mark): State the physical significance of the shaded area in Figure 3. [1 mark] At the Earth’s surface, • the gravitational field strength of the Sun is gS • the gravi
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q03.5 (4 marks): The space probe eventually reaches a point where the gravitational influence of the Solar System is negligible. The probe is unpowered as it approaches an isola
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q04.5 (2 marks): Explain what is represented by the area under the graph between r = R and r = 2R on Figure 5. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q02.3 (2 marks): Figure 3 shows the orbital plane of the satellite inclined at an angle to the equator. X, Y and Z are locations on the Earth. X is at the North Pole, Y is on a
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q02.4 (2 marks): The satellite has a mass of 1630 kg. Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the satellite when in the orbit in Question 02.2. [2 marks] gravitational p
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q11 (1 mark): The diagram shows gravitational equipotentials. Adjacent equipotentials are separated by an equal gravitational potential difference V. Which point has the grea
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): The diagram shows equipotential lines for a uniform gravitational field. The lines are separated by 20 m. An object of mass 4 kg is moved from P to Q. What is t
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): The graph shows how the gravitational potential V varies with the vertical distance d from the surface of the Earth. What does the gradient of the graph represe
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.1 (1 mark): Define gravitational potential at a point. [1 mark]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.2 (1 mark): Figure 2 shows the positions of equipotential surfaces at different distances from the centre of the Moon. Figure 2 Explain how the equipotential surfaces in Fi
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q03.3 (4 marks): Calculate, using Figure 2, the escape velocity at the surface of the Moon. radius of Moon = 1.74 × 106 m [4 marks] escape velocity = m s−1
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q08 (1 mark): Which row shows two scalar quantities? [1 mark] A gravitational potential gravitational field strength B mass gravitational potential C gravitational field stre
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): The graph shows how the gravitational potential varies with distance between two planets, K and L, that have the same radius. Which statement is correct? [1 mar
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): The diagram shows equipotential lines near a group of asteroids. Which arrow shows the direction of the gravitational field at X? [1 mark] A B C D
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q16 (1 mark): Planet N has a gravitational potential –V at its surface. Planet M has double the density and double the radius of planet N. Both planets are spherical and have
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): A spacecraft of mass 1.0 × 106 kg is in orbit around the Sun at a radius of 1.1 × 1011 m The spacecraft moves into a new orbit of radius 2.5 × 1011 m around the
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q06.3 (2 marks): A ball travelling at constant speed passes position J moving towards position K in Figure 6. Assume friction is negligible. Explain any change in the speed of t
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q07.4 (3 marks): Figure 8 shows the variation in gravitational potential with distance from the centre of Pluto for points at and above its surface. Figure 8 A meteorite hits Pl
- June 2016, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q10 (1 mark): X and Y are two stars of equal mass M. The distance between their centres is d. What is the gravitational potential at the mid-point P between them? A ––– B – –
- June 2015, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q12 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements about gravitational potential is incorrect? A It is analogous to the electric potential at a point in an electric field. B
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q11 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements about gravitational potential is correct? A Gravitational potential can have a positive value. B The gravitational potenti
- June 2014, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q18 (1 mark): A uniform electric field of electric field strength E is aligned so it is vertical. An ion moves vertically through a small distance Δd from point X to point Y
- June 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q14 (1 mark): Mars has a diameter approximately 0.5 that of the Earth, and a mass of 0.1 that of the Earth. The gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface is –63MJkg–1. W
- January 2013, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q13 (1 mark): The diagram shows two points, P and Q, at distances r and 2r from the centre of a planet. The gravitational potential at P is –16kJkg–1. What is the work done o
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q11 (1 mark): Which one of the following statements about gravitational fields is incorrect? A Moving a mass in the direction of the field lines reduces its potential energy.
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(a) (2 marks): Define the gravitational potential at a point in a gravitational field. (2 marks)
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): The gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface is –62.6MJkg–1. Point X shown in Figure 5 is on the line of centres between the Earth and the Moon At X the r
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why, once the probe is beyond X, no further energy would have to be supplied in order for it to reach the surface of the Moon. (1 mark)
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): In the vicinity of the Earth’s orbit the gravitational potential due to the Sun’s mass is –885MJkg–1. With reference to the variation in gravitational potential
- June 2012, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q4(c) (6 marks): The amount of energy required to move a manned spacecraft from the Earth to the Moon is much greater than that required to return it to the Earth. By reference
- January 2012, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q12 (1 mark): The gravitational potential at the surface of the Earth, of radius R, is V. What is the gravitational potential at a point at a height R above the Earth’s surfa
- June 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q12 (1 mark): At the surface of the Earth the gravitational field strength is g, and the gravitational potential is V. The radius of the Earth is R. An object, whose weight o
- January 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q10 (1 mark): The diagram shows two positions, X and Y, on the Earth’s surface. Which line, A to D, in the table gives correct comparisons at X and Y for gravitational potent
- January 2011, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q12 (1 mark): As a comet orbits the Sun the distance between the comet and the Sun continually changes. As the comet moves towards the Sun this distance reaches a minimum val
- June 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q10 (1 mark): The gravitational potential difference between the surface of a planet and a point P, 10m above the surface, is 8.0Jkg–1. Assuming a uniform field, what is the
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section A (old spec), Q12 (1 mark): Which one of the following could be a unit of gravitational potential? A N B J C Nkg–1 D Jkg–1
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State the relationship between the gravitational potential energy, Ep, and the gravitational potential, V, for a body of mass m placed in a gravitational field.
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): What is the effect, if any, on the values of Ep and V if the mass m is doubled? value of Ep value of V (2 marks)
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the radius, from the centre of the Earth, of orbit A. answer = m (2 marks)
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Show that the radius of orbit B is approximately 1.1 × 104km. (1 mark)
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(b)(iv) (1 mark): Show that the gravitational potential energy of a 330kg satellite decreases by about 8GJ when it moves from orbit A to orbit B. (1 mark)
- January 2010, PHYA4 Section B (old spec), Q3(c) (1 mark): Explain why it is not possible to use the equation ∆Ep = mg∆h when determining the change in the gravitational potential energy of a satellite as it moves betwe
- June 2008, PA04A (2008 spec), Q9 (2 marks): 9 Which one of the following has different units to the other three? A gravitational potential gradient B gravitational Þ eld strength C force per unit mass D g
- June 2008, PA04B (2008 spec), Q3(b) (5 marks): 3 (b) (i) From the graph, estimate the potential energy lost by the 1000 kg mass as it falls to the surface of the Moon from a very large distance above it. Exp
- June 2008, PA10 (2008 spec), Q4(b) (5 marks): 4 (b) Jupiter has a mean radius of 7.1 × 10 7 m and a mass of 1.92 × 10 27 kg. 4 (b) (i) Show that the gravitational potential due to Jupiter at its surface is
- January 2008, PA04A (2008 spec), Q10 (2 marks): 10 The diagram shows two objects of equal mass m separated by a distance r. Which line, A to D, in the table gives the correct values of the gravitational field
- January 2008, PA04A (2008 spec), Q11 (2 marks): 11 Mars has a diameter approximately 0.5 that of the Earth, and a mass of 0.1 that of the Earth. If the gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface is –63 MJ
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