A Level Physics 9702, topic 13.3
Gravitational field of a point mass: past paper questions
10 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Gravitational field of a point mass (13.3) from 10 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 10
- Papers
- 10
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 99
- Average per question
- 9.9 marks
- Largest question
- 12 marks
By type: Structured 10
What the syllabus asks
- derive, from Newton’s law of gravitation and the definition of gravitational field, the equation g = GM/r 2 for the gravitational field strength due to a point mass
- recall and use g = GM/r 2
- understand why g is approximately constant for small changes in height near the Earth’s surface
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply2
- Analyse8
- Not banded0
Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.
Command words
- defineRecall8 questions
give precise meaning
- determineApply6 questions
establish an answer using the information available
- explainAnalyse6 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- completeApply4 questions
- sketchApply4 questions
make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features
- stateRecall4 questions
express in clear terms
- drawApply3 questions
- useApply3 questions
- calculateApply2 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- compareAnalyse2 questions
identify/comment on similarities and/or differences
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20263
- 20252
- 20243
- 20232
By session
- May/June5
- Oct/Nov5
By paper
- Paper 410
Questions on this topic
Showing 4 of 10, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 1May/June 2026, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram
Define gravitational potential at a point.
- Try this questionQuestion 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram
Define gravitational field at a point.
- Try this questionQuestion 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured12 marksHas a diagram
The Sun may be considered as a uniform sphere with a mass of and a surface temperature of 5780 K. A probe with a mass of 2.63 kg moves in a straight line towards the Sun.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram
State what is indicated by the direction of the gravitational field line at a point in a gravitational field.