Download 1. Which statement most accurately describes how the force of

Name: ____________________________________
Class: _____________
Date: _____________
Self Assessment: Gravity
1. Which statement most accurately describes how the force of gravitation acts on two objects in space?
a) The force of gravity is inversely proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to
the square of the distance between them.
b) The force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the mass of the objects and directly
proportional to the distance between them.
c) The force of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the
distance between them.
d) The force of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.
2. The force of gravity between two objects operates on both of the objects. Why then, if a ball is dropped,
does it appear to fall to Earth, rather than Earth rising to meet it?
a) Earth does move toward the ball, but because its mass is so much greater, this motion is extremely
small.
b) The gravity of the Sun, which holds Earth in its orbit, keeps Earth from moving toward objects that are
dropped.
c) Gravity operates differently within Earth's atmosphere than it does in outer space.
d) The small distance that exists between the objects cancels the gravitational effect of the ball on Earth.
3. The force of gravity attracts planets to the stars they orbit. Why does Earth orbit the Sun rather than falling
directly into it?
a) Earth is simultaneously pulled toward the Sun by the gravity of the Sun and away from the Sun by the
gravity of the Moon.
b) The gravity of the Sun is not great enough to pull Earth into it.
c) Earth is also moving past the Sun, and the force of gravity between them causes its path to curve into
an ellipse.
d) The gravitational force of the large planets further from the Sun pulls Earth away from the Sun and
keeps it in orbit.
4. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is _____.
a) 9.8 meters per second
b) 9.8 meters per kilogram of mass
c) 9.8 miles per hour
d) 9.8 meters per second per second
PAGE 1
Name: ____________________________________
Class: _____________
Date: _____________
Self Assessment: Gravity
5. What is the difference between weight and mass?
a) Mass is a metric measurement, while weight is a measurement in the English system.
b) Mass is the amount of matter an object contains, while weight is a measure of the force of gravity on
an object.
c) Weight is a measurement of the mass of an object and its distance from another given object, such as
Earth.
d) Weight is the amount of matter an object contains, while mass is a measure of the force of gravity on
an object.
6. Imagine that two objects exist in space at a given distance. What would happen to the gravitational force
between the two objects if the mass of one object was doubled and the distance between the two objects
was decreased by half?
a) It would be four times as great as it was before.
b) It would be eight times as great as it was before.
c) It would be twice as great as it was before.
d) It would be half the strength it was before.
7. A 100 kg object will weigh slightly less on top of Mount Everest than it will at sea level. Why is this?
a) The top of Mount Everest is closer to the Moon, which pulls the object away from Earth.
b) At sea level, the object is pushed down by the weight of the atmosphere, making it weigh more.
c) The top of Mount Everest is farther from Earth's center.
d) Air is thinner on top of Mount Everest, increasing the object's buoyancy.
8. Why is Earth shaped like a sphere?
a) Earth's rotation caused Earth to become spherical through centrifugal force.
b) Earth's mass is pulled toward its center by gravity, making Earth spherical.
c) The changing direction of the Sun's gravitational pull as Earth orbits it shapes Earth into a sphere.
d) The force of the Moon's gravity as it orbits Earth forms Earth into a sphere.
PAGE 2
Name: ____________________________________
Class: _____________
Date: _____________
Self Assessment: Gravity
9. Because of the large mass of Earth, small objects on Earth have the same acceleration due to gravity.
However, if a person drops a metal ball and a feather from a tall building, the metal ball will hit the ground
first. Why does the metal ball fall more quickly?
a) because of the rotation of Earth
b) because of air resistance
c) because of Earth's magnetic field
d) because of the gravity of the Moon
10. What name is given to the location between two objects at which their gravitational pull is equal?
a) Lagrange point
b) center of gravity
c) event horizon
d) terminal velocity
PAGE 3
ANSWER KEY
1. d
2. a
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. b
ANSWER KEY Page 1
7. c
8. b
9. b
10. a