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11th grade Newton's law of universal gravitation worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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Newton's law of universal gravitation

Grade 11 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. A space probe feels a pull of 36 N from a planet. If its distance from the planet's center becomes 2 times as large, what pull does it feel, Ari?

  2. A space probe feels a pull of 80 N from a planet. If its distance from the planet's center becomes 4 times as large, what pull does it feel, Bo?

  3. A space probe feels a pull of 72 N from a planet. If its distance from the planet's center becomes 3 times as large, what pull does it feel, Esme?

  4. Orbit diagram (NASA fact sheets). In the diagram, which way does Earth's pull on the Moon point, Luz?

    • Along the Moon's path
    • Toward Earth's center
    • Away from Earth

  5. One of two masses doubles at the same distance. What happens to the gravitational force between them, Milo?

    • It doubles
    • It is 4 times as big
    • It halves

  6. Both masses double at the same distance. What happens to the gravitational force between them, Noah?

    • It stays the same, since both changed
    • It is 4 times as big
    • It doubles

  7. A 2 kg box and a 1 kg box sit near each other. Which pulls on the other harder by gravity, Pia?

    • Neither: the pulls are equal
    • The 1 kg box pulls harder
    • The 2 kg box pulls harder

  8. Which pairs of objects attract each other by gravity, Ren?

    • Planets and stars, but not small things
    • Every pair of objects with mass
    • Objects that are touching

  9. Why don't two boxes on a table visibly pull together, Tala?

    • The table blocks gravity
    • Gravity doesn't act between small objects
    • Their pull on each other is far too small to notice

  10. G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg². What does its tiny size tell you, Zee?

    • G is the same as g
    • Gravity is strong between small objects
    • Gravity between everyday masses is very weak
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11th grade Newton's law of universal gravitation worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Newton's law of universal gravitation. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can use the inverse square. Twice the distance gives one-quarter of the pull, 3 times gives one-ninth, and 10 times gives one-hundredth. Each mass counts once.
  • I can measure r from center to center (radius + height) and find g = GM ÷ r² for Earth, Mars and the Moon from NASA data, with r in meters.
  • I can find g above Earth's surface, and I know g is still about 8.7 N/kg at 400 km.
  • I can explain that the two pulls are always equal and opposite, that weight changes between worlds while mass does not, and why G's tiny size makes everyday pulls unnoticeable.

Standard: HS-PS2-4

Words to know

universal gravitation: Every pair of masses attracts with F = Gm₁m₂ ÷ r²

G: The gravitational constant, 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²

inverse square: The force falls as 1 ÷ distance²

center to center: The distance r between the middles of the two bodies

gravitational field strength (g): The pull on each kilogram, in N/kg, equal to m/s²

Common mistakes

Your child divided by the distance factor instead of its square. Gravity falls with distance squared: twice as far, one-quarter the pull.

Your child put the radius in kilometers. G uses meters, so change kilometers to meters first.

Your child did not square the radius. Surface gravity is GM ÷ r².

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with newton's law of universal gravitation?

Your child divided by the distance factor instead of its square. Gravity falls with distance squared: twice as far, one-quarter the pull.

Are these 11th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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