IB skill practice

Use gravitational field strength and potential concepts

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 3

Gravitational field strength

A planet in a charged-particle beam tube has mass \(6.1\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}\). A probe is \(6.8\times10^{6}\,\text{m}\) from its centre. Use \(G=6.67\times10^{-11}\). Calculate gravitational field strength. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the field physics.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.