plumiGravitational field and potential: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
OCR A-Level Physics B past-paper questions on 5.1.2.2 Gravitational field and potential, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q37(a)(i)
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All 41 questions on Gravitational field and potential, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(a)(i) (2 marks): On Fig. 37.1 draw one gravitational field line that starts from the point P on the surface of [2] Bennu.
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(a)(ii) (2 marks): For the spacecraft to travel at a constant height above Bennu from R to Q, requires a thrust from its engines. Explain why a thrust is needed. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(b)(i) (4 marks): Use the graph in Fig. 37.2 to calculate the gravitational force on the spacecraft when it is 600 m above the surface. force = N [4]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(b)(ii) (3 marks): At the time of its departure from Bennu the Osiris-Rex spacecraft is orbiting 400 m above Bennu. Calculate the velocity required to escape the gravitational fie
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): Use the value from (a)(ii) to calculate the mass of the Sun. mass = kg [3]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): The diagram shows three gravitational equipotentials, X, Y and Z, at distances R, 2R and 3R from an isolated point mass. Y 2R 3R R Z X The gravitational potenti
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q9 (4 marks): This question is about the Chandra X-ray Observatory (lines 26–32). The Chandra X-ray Observatory has a highly elliptical orbit. The total energy of the satelli
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10(a) (3 marks): Calculate the resultant field strength due to the Earth and the Sun at the L2 point. Mass of Sun = 2.0 × 1030 kg Mass of Earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg resultant field s
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): The mass of the Moon is about 1% that of the Earth. It orbits the Earth at a radius of 3.8 × 108 m. Suggest and explain the effect of the Moon, if any, on the J
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(a) (1 mark): Show that the gravitational potential at the surface of the Moon is about –2.9 × 106 J kg–1. Ignore the effects of other masses in the Solar System. mass of moo
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the initial velocity needed for a projectile to leave the surface of the Moon and reach an infinite distance away is about 2.4 × 103 m s–1. Ignore the
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the initial velocity needed for a projectile to be sent from the Moon’s surface to the Earth as shown in Fig. 36.1 is less than the value given in b
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(a) (2 marks): Estimate the lifetime of the Sun if gravitational contraction is the source of its energy. State your answer in years. M = 2.0 × 1030 kg R = 7.0 × 108 m L = 3.9
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q31(a) (1 mark): How does the diagram show that the gravitational field is uniform on this scale? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Use the equation for centripetal force and the equation giving the gravitational force between two bodies, to show that the constant k in Kepler’s relationship
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Use ideas of energy transfer to explain why the spacecraft moves faster when it is nearer to Jupiter. The spacecraft motors are not used when it is orbiting the
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): The spacecraft Juno travels at 5.8 × 104 m s–1 at its closest approach to the planet. At its furthest point from Jupiter, the spacecraft is 1.0 × 109 m from the
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d) (3 marks): The spacecraft fired motors to slow it down before it entered orbit with Jupiter. Suggest and explain why this was necessary. [3]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): What is the gain in potential when rising 1000 km above the surface of the planet Mars? Mass of Mars = 6.4 × 1023 kg Radius of Mars = 3400 km 2.9 × 106 J kg–1 A
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): The graph shows the variation of gravitational potential with radial distance r from the centre of the planet Mercury. r / km 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 350
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term gravitational potential. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why gravitational potential is always a negative quantity. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): The gravitational potential at the surface of the Earth is about –6.3 × 107 J kg–1. Write down the minimum initial kinetic energy required for a 1 kg body to es
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(c) (4 marks): The Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched in 1977. It has travelled further into space than any other human-made device. In May 2019 it was more than 2.2 × 1013 m f
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): At which point is the gravitational field strongest? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which point is the gravitational neutral point (gtotal = 0)? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Mplanet 18 From evidence on the diagram, which is the best estimate for ? mmoon 1 A 5 1 B 2 C 1 D 5 Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which feature represents a change of gravitational potential ΔVg between two points? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q21 (1 mark): Which feature represents the magnitude of the gravitational field g at a point? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): The mass of the satellite is 2300 kg. Use the graph to show that the change in gravitational potential energy of the satellite between its launch and its positi
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use the value for the change in potential energy from (a)(i) to show that the mass of the Earth is about 6 × 1024 kg. [3]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the force on the satellite when orbiting at a height of 825 km above the Earth’s surface. force = N [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q38(b)(iii) (1 mark): Star S2 is in an elliptical orbit around the black hole. The closest approach of S2 to the central mass is 6.5 × 1012 m. The Schwarzschild radius RS of a massiv
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(a) (2 marks): Use the value of G and data from the article (lines 56–62) to show that the radius of Mars is about 3.4 × 106 m. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(b) (6 marks): This question is about Martian meteorites (lines 43–47). (b)* Calculate the gravitational potential at the surface of Mars and use this value to estimate the en
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): If P is the gravitational neutral point between the stars, which ratio is correct for x : y ? A 1 : 4 B 1 : 2 C 2 : 1 D 4 : 1 Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q28 (1 mark): If P is the point where the gravitational potentials of the two stars are equal, which ratio is correct for x : y ? A 1 : 4 B 1 : 2 C 2 : 1 D 4 : 1 Your answer
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q9(c) (4 marks): Use the data below to show that the Juno probe has sufficient energy per kg to move from 1 AU to 5.2 AU after its gravitational slingshot (see lines 58 – 60 in
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which of the following is correct? A As the planet leaves X it is speeding up. B As the planet approaches X it is slowing down. C As the planet approaches Y it
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which of the following quantities is greater at Y than at X? A the gravitational force on the planet from the sun B the gravitational potential energy of the pl
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q36(b)(iii) (3 marks): The Moon’s orbital radius R 60 R . = # E arth The gravitational acceleration at the Earth’s surface g = 9.8 m s–2. Calculate the acceleration due to the Earth’s
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