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Newton’s law of gravitation: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q9

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 9: Two spheres each of radius 10 m and mass 1600 kg exert a gravitational force of 1.7 × 10 –8 N on 9 each other. What is the shortest distance between the surface

  2. Q17(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 17(b)(i): The average radius of the Earth is 6400 km. Show that the ratio below is greater than 0.99. gravitational field strength at 10 000 m altitude gravitational fiel

  3. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 6(b)(i): Write down an expression for the gravitational force, F, acting between the black holes in terms of M, D and the universal gravitational constant, G. F = [1]

  4. Q3(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    6 marks3.1.1 Kinematics5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 3(b): The rocket reaches its maximum height at point C. Estimate the vertical displacement H between A and C. Assume that g = 9.81 m s–2 • throughout. • Clearly state

  5. Q7

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 7: Two identical spheres, each of mass 8700 kg, have a space of 3.6 m between their centres. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force they exert on each ot

  6. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 1(a)(i): Mark an X on the diagram to show the point in the orbit where MAVEN has maximum acceleration. [1]

  7. Q1(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 1(a): Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational field strength g at the surface of Venus. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. g = N kg–1 [3]

  8. Q7

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 7: The planet Mercury has a highly elliptical orbit around the Sun. The gravitational force F acting on Mercury due to the Sun varies with its distance r from the

  9. Q23(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    4 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation2.2.1 Measurements and uncertainties
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 23(a): Here is some data on the star Aa1. radius = (1.90 ± 0.14) × 109 m • mass = (6.31 ± 0.42) × 1030 kg. • Calculate the gravitational field strength g at the surfac

  10. Q5

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 5: The gravitational force between two point-mass objects X and Y is F1. The mass of X increases and the distance between X and Y is halved. Which statement about

  11. Q4(b)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): Calculate the value of the gravitational field strength g at the height of the ISS above the Earth. g = N kg–1 [3]

  12. Q24(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 24(b)(i): Estimate the gravitational force between two neighbouring galaxies. force = N [2]

  13. Q17(b)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 17(b)(i): Complete the table by calculating the missing values. [1]

  14. Q17(b)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    5 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 17(b)(ii): Fig. 17.2 shows the graph of lg (g / N kg−1) against lg (r / km). 0.1 lg (g / N kg–1) 0 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 lg (r / km) – 0.1 – 0.2 – 0.3 – 0.4 Fig. 17.2 1 Plot the

  15. Q17(c)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 17(c)(i): Explain briefly the overall shape of the graph in Fig. 17.3. [2]

  16. Q17(c)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 17(c)(ii): Use the value of r when g = 0 from Fig. 17.3 to determine the ratio mass of Earth mass of Mars . mass of Earth mass of Mars = [2]

  17. Q1

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 1: Which of the following is a correct unit for gravitational field strength? J kg−1 A N kg−1 B N m2 kg−2 C kg m s−1 D Your answer [1]

  18. Q9

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.4.2 Newton’s law of gravitation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 9: A graph of y against distance r from the centre of a planet is shown below. 4.0 y 3.0 2.0 1.0 0 10 15 20 r / Mm The graph shows that y is inversely proportional
All 18 questions on Newton’s law of gravitation, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): Two spheres each of radius 10 m and mass 1600 kg exert a gravitational force of 1.7 × 10 –8 N on 9 each other. What is the shortest distance between the surface
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q17(b)(i) (2 marks): The average radius of the Earth is 6400 km. Show that the ratio below is greater than 0.99. gravitational field strength at 10 000 m altitude gravitational fiel
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Write down an expression for the gravitational force, F, acting between the black holes in terms of M, D and the universal gravitational constant, G. F = [1]
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q3(b) (6 marks): The rocket reaches its maximum height at point C. Estimate the vertical displacement H between A and C. Assume that g = 9.81 m s–2 • throughout. • Clearly state
  5. June 2023, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Two identical spheres, each of mass 8700 kg, have a space of 3.6 m between their centres. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force they exert on each ot
  6. June 2023, Paper 3, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Mark an X on the diagram to show the point in the orbit where MAVEN has maximum acceleration. [1]
  7. June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(a) (3 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational field strength g at the surface of Venus. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. g = N kg–1 [3]
  8. November 2021, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): The planet Mercury has a highly elliptical orbit around the Sun. The gravitational force F acting on Mercury due to the Sun varies with its distance r from the
  9. November 2021, Paper 1, Q23(a) (4 marks): Here is some data on the star Aa1. radius = (1.90 ± 0.14) × 109 m • mass = (6.31 ± 0.42) × 1030 kg. • Calculate the gravitational field strength g at the surfac
  10. November 2020, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): The gravitational force between two point-mass objects X and Y is F1. The mass of X increases and the distance between X and Y is halved. Which statement about
  11. November 2020, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the value of the gravitational field strength g at the height of the ISS above the Earth. g = N kg–1 [3]
  12. June 2019, Paper 1, Q24(b)(i) (2 marks): Estimate the gravitational force between two neighbouring galaxies. force = N [2]
  13. June 2018, Paper 1, Q17(b)(i) (1 mark): Complete the table by calculating the missing values. [1]
  14. June 2018, Paper 1, Q17(b)(ii) (5 marks): Fig. 17.2 shows the graph of lg (g / N kg−1) against lg (r / km). 0.1 lg (g / N kg–1) 0 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 lg (r / km) – 0.1 – 0.2 – 0.3 – 0.4 Fig. 17.2 1 Plot the
  15. June 2018, Paper 1, Q17(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain briefly the overall shape of the graph in Fig. 17.3. [2]
  16. June 2018, Paper 1, Q17(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use the value of r when g = 0 from Fig. 17.3 to determine the ratio mass of Earth mass of Mars . mass of Earth mass of Mars = [2]
  17. June 2017, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following is a correct unit for gravitational field strength? J kg−1 A N kg−1 B N m2 kg−2 C kg m s−1 D Your answer [1]
  18. June 2017, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A graph of y against distance r from the centre of a planet is shown below. 4.0 y 3.0 2.0 1.0 0 10 15 20 r / Mm The graph shows that y is inversely proportional

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