PHY 111 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
GUIDE 2026 FULL Q&A STUDY SET
◉ acts as the centripetal force for objects in orbit. Orbital motion is
essentially freefall. The velocity of a circular orbit can be determined
by combining Newton's law of gravity with the definition of
centripetal acceleration.
Answer: gravitational force
◉ is related to its period according to Kepler's third law: (T2 / r3) =
(T2 / r3). Kepler's first law notes that the Earth's path around the
sun is an ellipse with the sun at one of the foci. The second law
states that planets move such that a line drawn between the planet
and the sun will create equal areas in equal amounts of time.
Answer: circular path of an orbit
◉ A second satellite is put into orbit around the moon. This satellite
needs to have a shorter period of rotation. Should it orbit closer to
the surface or further from the surface? Explain.
Answer: The new satellite should orbit closer to the surface. The
gravitational pull will be greater, and the distance traveled will be
shorter, both of which mean the speed will be greater. Therefore, it
will take less time to orbit.
, ◉ The new satellite has a greater mass than the original satellite.
Explain how this larger mass will affect both the orbital velocity and
orbital period of the satellite?
Answer: The mass of the falling object does not affect its motion. The
new satellite will have a larger gravity force due to its larger mass;
however, it will need that larger force to overcome its greater inertia.
The resulting centripetal motion will be the same as the original
satellite. Since the orbital distance of the two satellites is the same
and the acceleration is the same, the speed must also be the same.
◉ Summarize Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.
Answer: 1 - The Earth's orbit is elliptical with the sun at one of the
focal points.
2 - Planets move such that a line drawn between the planet and the
sun will create equal areas in equal amounts of time.
3 - The relationship between period and orbital radius for any two
objects orbiting the same planet is the following:
(T2 / r3) = (T2 / r3)
◉ Which of the following are NOT units used to measure energy?
Answer: N
◉ Which of the following is NOT a mechanical form of energy?
Answer: nuclear
GUIDE 2026 FULL Q&A STUDY SET
◉ acts as the centripetal force for objects in orbit. Orbital motion is
essentially freefall. The velocity of a circular orbit can be determined
by combining Newton's law of gravity with the definition of
centripetal acceleration.
Answer: gravitational force
◉ is related to its period according to Kepler's third law: (T2 / r3) =
(T2 / r3). Kepler's first law notes that the Earth's path around the
sun is an ellipse with the sun at one of the foci. The second law
states that planets move such that a line drawn between the planet
and the sun will create equal areas in equal amounts of time.
Answer: circular path of an orbit
◉ A second satellite is put into orbit around the moon. This satellite
needs to have a shorter period of rotation. Should it orbit closer to
the surface or further from the surface? Explain.
Answer: The new satellite should orbit closer to the surface. The
gravitational pull will be greater, and the distance traveled will be
shorter, both of which mean the speed will be greater. Therefore, it
will take less time to orbit.
, ◉ The new satellite has a greater mass than the original satellite.
Explain how this larger mass will affect both the orbital velocity and
orbital period of the satellite?
Answer: The mass of the falling object does not affect its motion. The
new satellite will have a larger gravity force due to its larger mass;
however, it will need that larger force to overcome its greater inertia.
The resulting centripetal motion will be the same as the original
satellite. Since the orbital distance of the two satellites is the same
and the acceleration is the same, the speed must also be the same.
◉ Summarize Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.
Answer: 1 - The Earth's orbit is elliptical with the sun at one of the
focal points.
2 - Planets move such that a line drawn between the planet and the
sun will create equal areas in equal amounts of time.
3 - The relationship between period and orbital radius for any two
objects orbiting the same planet is the following:
(T2 / r3) = (T2 / r3)
◉ Which of the following are NOT units used to measure energy?
Answer: N
◉ Which of the following is NOT a mechanical form of energy?
Answer: nuclear
