A Level Physics 9702, topic 13.2
Gravitational force between point masses: past paper questions
6 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Gravitational force between point masses (13.2) from 6 papers, 2023 to 2025. 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
- 6
- Papers
- 6
- Years
- 2023 to 2025
- Total marks
- 64
- Average per question
- 10.7 marks
- Largest question
- 12 marks
By type: Structured 6
What the syllabus asks
- understand that, for a point outside a uniform sphere, the mass of the sphere may be considered to be a point mass at its centre
- recall and use Newton’s law of gravitation F = Gm1 m2/r 2 for the force between two point masses
- analyse circular orbits in gravitational fields by relating the gravitational force to the centripetal acceleration it causes
- understand that a satellite in a geostationary orbit remains at the same point above the Earth’s surface, with an orbital period of 24 hours, orbiting from west to east, directly above the Equator
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply2
- Analyse4
- 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
- stateRecall6 questions
express in clear terms
- useApply4 questions
- calculateApply3 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- defineRecall2 questions
give precise meaning
- explainAnalyse2 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- show thatApply2 questions
- suggestAnalyse2 questions
apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals
- determineApply1 question
establish an answer using the information available
- estimateApply1 question
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20253
- 20242
- 20231
By session
- May/June3
- Oct/Nov3
By paper
- Paper 46
Questions on this topic
Showing 2 of 6, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured11 marks
State Newton’s law of gravitation.
- Try this questionQuestion 1May/June 2025, paper 41Structured9 marks
Define gravitational potential at a point.