Gravity Free Response

1984M2. Two satellites, of masses m and 3m, respectively, are in the same circular orbit about the Earth's center, as
shown in the diagram above. The Earth has mass M
e
and radius R
e
. In this orbit, which has a radius of 2R
e
, the
satellites initially move with the same orbital speed v
o
but in opposite directions.
a. Calculate the orbital speed v
o
of the satellites in terms of G, M
e
, and R
e
.












b. Assume that the satellites collide head-on and stick together. In terms of v
o
find the speed v of the combination
immediately after the collision.











c. Calculate the total mechanical energy of the system immediately after the collision in terms of G, m, M
e
, and
R
e
. Assume that the gravitational potential energy of an object is defined to be zero at an infinite distance from
the Earth.


1994M3. A satellite of mass m is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth, which has mass M
e
and radius R
e
. The orbit
varies from closest approach of a at point A to maximum distance of b from the center of the Earth at point B. At
point A, the speed of the satellite is v
o
Assume that the gravitational potential energy U
g
= 0 when masses are an
infinite distance apart. Express your answers in terms of a, b, m, M
e
, R
e
, v
o
, and G.
a. Write the appropriate definite integral, including limits, that can be evaluated to show that the potential energy
of the satellite when it is a distance r from the center of the Earth is given by
U
g
= -Gm
e
m
R



b. Determine the total energy of the satellite when it is at A.





c. What is the magnitude of the angular momentum of the satellite about the center of the Earth when it is at A ?








d. Determine the velocity of the satellite as it passes point B in its orbit.

As the satellite passes point A, a rocket engine on the satellite is fired so that its orbit is changed to a circular orbit of
radius a about the center of the Earth.
e. Determine the speed of the satellite for this circular orbit.








f. Determine the work done by the rocket engine to effect this change.


1995M3. Two stars, A and B. are in circular orbits of radii r
a
and r
b
, respectively, about their common
center of mass at point P, as shown above. Each star has the same period of revolution T.
Determine expressions for the following three quantities in terms of r
a
, r
b
, T, and fundamental constants.
a. The centripetal acceleration of star A





b. The mass M
b
of star B







c. The mass M
a
of star A







Determine expressions for the following two quantities in terms of M
a
, M
b
, r
a
, r
b
, T, and fundamental
constants.
d. The moment of inertia of the two-star system about its center of mass.







e. The angular momentum of the system about the center of mass.


1999 M2 A spherical, nonrotating planet has a radius R and a uniform density throughout its volume. Suppose a
narrow tunnel were drilled through the planet along one of its diameters, as shown in the figure above, in which a
small ball of mass m could move freely under the influence of gravity. Let r be the distance of the ball from the
center of the planet.
a. Show that the magnitude of the force on the ball at a distance r < R from the center of the planet is given by
F = -Cr. where C = 4/3(Gm).











b. On the axes below, sketch the force F on the ball as a function of distance r from the center of the planet.


The ball is dropped into the tunnel from rest at point P at the planet's surface.
c. Determine the work done by gravity as the ball moves from the surface to the center of the planet.





d. Determine the speed of the ball when it reaches the center of the planet.




e. Fully describe the subsequent motion of the ball from the time it reaches the center of the planet.












f. Write an equation that could be used to calculate the time it takes the ball to move from point P to the center of
the planet. It is not necessary to solve this equation.

2000M2. An explorer plans a mission to place a satellite into a circular orbit around the planet Jupiter, which has
mass M
J
= 1.90 x 10
27
kg and radius R
J
= 7.14 x 10
7
m.
a. If the radius of the planned orbit is R, use Newton's laws to show each of the following.
i. The orbital speed of the planned satellite is given by








ii. The period of the orbit is given by










b. The explorer wants the satellite's orbit to be synchronized with Jupiter's rotation. This requires an equatorial
orbit whose period equals Jupiter's rotation period of 9 hr 51 min = 3.55 x 10
4
s. Determine the required orbital
radius in meters.






c. Suppose that the injection of the satellite into orbit is less than perfect. For an injection velocity that differs
from the desired value in each of the following ways, sketch the resulting orbit on the figure. (J is the center of
Jupiter, the dashed circle is the desired orbit, and P is the injection point.) Also, describe the resulting orbit
qualitatively but specifically.

i. When the satellite is at the desired altitude over the equator, its velocity vector has the correct
direction, but the speed is slightly faster than the correct speed for a circular orbit of that radius.


R
GM
v
J

J
GM
R
T
3 2
4

ii. When the satellite is at the desired altitude over the equator, its velocity vector has the correct direction,
but the speed is slightly slower than the correct speed for a circular orbit of that radius.




2005 M2
A student is give the set of orbital data for some for the moons of Saturn shown below and is asked to use the data to
determine the mass M
S
of Saturn. Assume the orbits of these moons are circular.


a. Write and algebraic expression for the gravitational force between Saturn and one of its moons.




b. Use your expression from part (a) and the assumption of circular orbits to derive and equation for the orbital
period T of a moon as a function of it orbital radius R.




c. Which quantities should be graphed to yield a straight line whose slope could be used to determine Saturns mass?


d. Complete the data table by calculating the two quantities to be graphed. Label the top of each column, including
units.
e. Plot the graph on the axes below. Label the axes with the variables used and appropriate numbers to indicate the
scale.

f. Using the graph, calculate a value for the mass of Saturn.