A Level Physics 9702, topic 13.4

Gravitational potential: past paper questions

11 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Gravitational potential (13.4) from 11 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.

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Questions: 11
Papers: 11
Years: 2023 to 2026
Total marks: 113
Average per question: 10.3 marks
Largest question: 12 marks

By type: Structured 11

What the syllabus asks

define gravitational potential at a point as the work done per unit mass in bringing a small test mass from infinity to the point
use ϕ = –GM/r for the gravitational potential in the field due to a point mass
understand how the concept of gravitational potential leads to the gravitational potential energy of two point masses and use EP = –GMm/r

How hard the questions are

Recall0
Apply6
Analyse5
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

defineRecall11 questions
give precise meaning
show thatApply6 questions
stateRecall6 questions
express in clear terms
useApply6 questions
calculateApply5 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
determineApply5 questions
establish an answer using the information available
explainAnalyse4 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
completeApply2 questions
sketchApply2 questions
make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features
drawApply1 question

Where the questions come from

By year

20263
20252
20243
20233

By session

May/June9
Oct/Nov2

By paper

Paper 411

Questions on this topic

Showing 4 of 11, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.

Question 1May/June 2026, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram
Define gravitational potential at a point.
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Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured12 marksHas a diagram
The Sun may be considered as a uniform sphere with a mass of $1.99 \times 10^{30} kg$ and a surface temperature of 5780 K. A probe with a mass of 2.63 kg moves in a straight line towards the Sun.
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Question 2May/June 2026, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram
Define gravitational field at a point.
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Question 1May/June 2023, paper 41Structured11 marks
Define gravitational field.
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