1 1Which statement below best describes Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation? A The gravitational pull exerted on an object depends on the length of its orbital path. B The smaller an object is, the greater the force of gravity it exerts. C Only the largest object in the universe exerts a constant force that pulls every other object towards it. D All objects in the universe exert a gravitational force on all other objects. 2Why does the Sun not orbit Earth? AOnly celestial objects within ten thousand miles of each other can be brought into another body’s orbit. BEarth’s mass is less than the Sun’s, so Earth does not have a strong enough gravitational pull to attract the Sun into its orbit. COnly celestial bodies that emit light, like the Sun, can be at the center of an orbit. DThe Sun has an elliptical orbit, so it cannot orbit Earth, which has a circular orbit. 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

2 3A student looking at a model of the solar system noted there is a belt of asteroids in orbit in between Mars and Jupiter as shown in the picture provided. Why do these asteroids orbit the Sun? A They are too small to orbit a planet. B They are too large to orbit a planet. C They are too far from any planet to be affected. D The Sun’s gravitational pull keeps them in orbit. 4A small planet that is close to the Sun will: A Have a strong gravitational pull exerted on it B Pull several smaller planets into its orbit C Have too small a mass to orbit the Sun D Orbit in an elliptical path 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

3 5Look at the picture of planets in orbit. Why do planets follow circular orbital paths? AThe force of motion and force of gravity maintain the planets’ constant path around the Sun. BIn order to follow an elliptical path, the planet would have to be larger than the Sun. CPlanets’ masses are too large to be influenced by the gravity of bodies other than the Sun. DPlanets lose the ability to move forward over time as they travel such a long distance to orbit the Sun. 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

4 6A student wonders why the Moon orbits Earth. What aspect of Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation would help answer the student’s question? AThe Moon was once part of Earth. BThe greater the distance between two objects, the weaker the force. C All objects exert the force of gravity on all other bodies. DThere is no gravity in space. 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

5 7As shown in the diagram provided, a student is making a poster explaining Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation. In the student’s poster, which object would have the greatest gravitational force, assuming each object is made of the same material? AObject A BObject B CObject C DObject D 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space ABCD

6 8Scientists at NASA have taken pictures of planets being “eaten” by a star. What could have happened to the orbit of the planet? A The gravity of the planet equaled the gravity of the star. B The planet did not belong to that star’s system. C The force of gravity of the star was less than the forward motion of the planet. D The force of gravity of the star was greater than the forward motion of the planet. 9A scientist drew these two diagrams to show one aspect of Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation. Which statement best explains the diagram? AThe gravitational force of A is greater than the gravitational force of B. BThe gravitational force of A is less than the gravitational force of B. CThe gravitational force of A is equal to the gravitational force of B. DOnly B shows a gravitational force. 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

7 10As shown in the picture provided, a student was challenged to put the planets of the solar system in order by the amount of the force of gravity of each planet. What planet should be listed as having the greatest gravitational force? AJupiter BEarth CSaturn DUranus 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space

8 11An astronomer was excited to discover another planetary system with planets orbiting the most massive object in the system. What is the massive object the planets of our solar system orbit? A Venus B Earth C Jupiter D The Sun 12A student is making a model of objects orbiting in the solar system. What is an orbiting object that is not a planet that the student could include in the model? A Neptune B A comet C The Sun D A star 6.11B: Gravity Earth and Space