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VCE Physics Units 3 & 4 (VCAA) practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.
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VCE Physics Units 3 & 4 practice question bank for senior secondary exam revision.
Sample VCE Physics Practice Questions
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1Which of the following best describes how the magnitude of the gravitational field strength g varies with distance r from the center of a uniform spherical planet of mass M and radius R, for positions outside the planet (r >= R)?
A.g is directly proportional to r.
B.g is inversely proportional to r.
C.g is inversely proportional to r squared.
D.g is constant regardless of distance r.
Explanation: According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational field strength outside a uniform sphere is g = GM / r^2. Therefore, g is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the center of mass. Options proposing direct proportionality, linear inverse proportionality, or constant field strength contradict the inverse-square law.
2An astronaut has a mass of 70 kg on Earth, where g = 9.8 N/kg. What are the astronaut's mass and weight on the Moon, where g_moon = 1.6 N/kg?
A.Mass = 70 kg, Weight = 112 N
B.Mass = 11.4 kg, Weight = 112 N
C.Mass = 70 kg, Weight = 686 N
D.Mass = 11.4 kg, Weight = 686 N
Explanation: Mass is an intrinsic property measuring the quantity of matter and remains 70 kg on the Moon. Weight is the gravitational force W = m * g_moon = 70 kg * 1.6 N/kg = 112 N. Options altering mass confuse mass with weight, while options giving 686 N calculate weight on Earth rather than the Moon.
3Two spherical masses m1 and m2 are separated by a distance r, exerting a gravitational force F on each other. If mass m1 is doubled and the separation distance r is tripled, what is the new gravitational force between them?
A.(2/3) F
B.(4/9) F
C.(2/9) F
D.(6/1) F
Explanation: Newton's gravitational force formula is F = G * m1 * m2 / r^2. Doubling m1 multiplies the numerator by 2, and tripling r multiplies the denominator by 3^2 = 9. The new force is F' = (2 * m1) * m2 / (3 r)^2 = (2/9) F. Incorrect options fail to square the distance factor or incorrectly handle the mass multiplier.
4A satellite orbits Earth in a stable circular orbit of radius r with speed v. If the orbital radius is increased to 4r, what will be the satellite's new orbital speed?
A.0.25 v
B.0.50 v
C.2.0 v
D.4.0 v
Explanation: Equating centripetal force to gravitational force gives m v^2 / r = G M m / r^2, which simplifies to v = sqrt(G M / r). Increasing the radius to 4r changes the speed to v' = sqrt(G M / (4r)) = 0.5 sqrt(G M / r) = 0.50 v. Options suggesting 0.25 v or higher speeds misapply the square root or inverse relationships.
5Satellite A orbits a planet at radius r with period T. Satellite B orbits the same planet at radius 4r. According to Kepler's Third Law, what is the orbital period of Satellite B in terms of T?
A.2 T
B.4 T
C.8 T
D.16 T
Explanation: Kepler's Third Law states that T^2 / r^3 is constant, so (T_B / T_A)^2 = (r_B / r_A)^3. Here r_B = 4r, so (T_B / T)^2 = 4^3 = 64. Taking the square root gives T_B = sqrt(64) T = 8 T. Options giving 2 T, 4 T, or 16 T reflect arithmetic errors when raising 4 to the 3/2 power.
6At what altitude h above Earth's surface (where Earth's radius is R_E = 6.37 x 10^6 m) is the gravitational field strength equal to 2.45 N/kg (one-quarter of its surface value g_0 = 9.80 N/kg)?
A.3.19 x 10^6 m
B.6.37 x 10^6 m
C.1.27 x 10^7 m
D.1.91 x 10^7 m
Explanation: Field strength g = G M / r^2. For g to be g_0 / 4, the distance from Earth's center must be r = sqrt(4) * R_E = 2 R_E. The altitude above the surface is h = r - R_E = 2 R_E - R_E = R_E = 6.37 x 10^6 m. Options giving 3.19 x 10^6 m or 1.27 x 10^7 m confuse distance from Earth's center with altitude above the surface.
7What physical quantity is represented by the area under a gravitational field strength versus distance graph (g vs r) between two radii r1 and r2?
A.Gravitational force per unit mass
B.Gravitational potential energy change per unit mass
C.Total gravitational force exerted on an object
D.Orbital velocity of a satellite
Explanation: Integrating gravitational field strength g over distance r gives work done per unit mass: integral(g dr) = delta(E_g) / m, which is the gravitational potential energy change per unit mass (joules per kilogram). The y-axis variable itself is field strength g, while the area omits mass.
8A geostationary satellite remains above the exact same point on Earth's equator. Given Earth's mass M_E = 5.98 x 10^24 kg and G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2/kg^2, what is the orbital radius of a geostationary satellite?
A.6.37 x 10^6 m
B.2.63 x 10^7 m
C.4.23 x 10^7 m
D.3.84 x 10^8 m
Explanation: A geostationary satellite has an orbital period T = 24 hours = 86,400 s. Using Kepler's Law r^3 = G M T^2 / (4 pi^2), r^3 = (6.67x10^-11 * 5.98x10^24 * 86400^2) / (4 pi^2) = 7.54 x 10^22 m^3. Taking the cube root gives r = 4.23 x 10^7 m. 6.37 x 10^6 m is Earth's radius, and 3.84 x 10^8 m is the Moon's orbital radius.
9Which change increases the gravitational field strength at the surface of a spherical planet of fixed radius R?
A.Increasing the planet's mass M
B.Decreasing the planet's density while keeping radius R fixed
C.Increasing the distance from the planet's surface
D.Decreasing the universal gravitational constant G
Explanation: The surface gravitational field strength is g = G M / R^2. For a fixed radius R, g is directly proportional to planet mass M. Decreasing density reduces mass, increasing distance decreases field strength by 1/r^2, and G is a universal constant.
10How are gravitational field lines arranged in the space surrounding an isolated, stationary spherical mass?
A.Concentric circles directed clockwise
B.Parallel straight lines pointing toward the mass
C.Radial straight lines pointing inward toward the center of mass
D.Radial straight lines pointing outward away from the center of mass
Explanation: Gravitational forces are strictly attractive. Field lines represent the force direction on a test mass, so they point radially inward toward the mass's center of mass. Concentric circles describe magnetic fields around wires, and outward lines describe positive electric charges.
About the VCE Physics Practice Questions
Verified exam format metadata for VCE Physics Units 3 & 4 (VCAA) is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.