Lesson 12.2.1

12.2.1 Gravitational potential of a point mass Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 12

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 12.2.1, Gravitational potential of a point mass: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 12: Gravitational Fields, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Where is the reference position for zero gravitational potential defined to be located?

    • Orbital altitude
    • Earth surface
    • Earth centre
    • Infinity

  2. At what distance from a mass is gravitational potential defined as zero?

    • Surface
    • One metre
    • Infinity
    • Centre

  3. Which equation gives the gravitational potential at distance r from a point mass M?

    • V = - G M / r^2
    • V = G M / r
    • V = - G M / r
    • V = G M r

  4. What are the SI units of gravitational potential?

    • N kg^-1
    • kg J^-1
    • J m^-1
    • J kg^-1

  5. Why is gravitational potential near a mass always a negative value?

    • Gravity is repulsive
    • Mass decreases inward
    • Zero at infinity
    • Work is zero

  6. Earth's mass is 6.0 x 10^24 kg. What is the gravitational potential at a distance of 2.0 x 10^7 m from its centre? Use G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2 kg^-2.

    • -2.0 x 10^7 J kg^-1
    • -2.0 x 10^-7 J kg^-1
    • -3.3 x 10^7 J kg^-1
    • +2.0 x 10^7 J kg^-1

  7. Using the same Earth, how much work must be done to move a 5.0 kg mass from 2.0 x 10^7 m to 4.0 x 10^7 m from its centre?

    • -5.0 x 10^7 J
    • 5.0 x 10^7 J
    • 1.0 x 10^7 J
    • 2.0 x 10^8 J

  8. The potential at distance r from a point mass is -40 J kg^-1. What is the potential at distance 2r?

    • -10 J kg^-1
    • -40 J kg^-1
    • -20 J kg^-1
    • -80 J kg^-1

  9. Earth's mass is 6.0 x 10^24 kg. Using 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2 kg^-2, how much energy per kilogram is needed to move from Earth's surface radius 6.4 x 10^6 m to infinity?

    • about 6.3 x 10^6 J kg^-1
    • about 6.3 x 10^7 J kg^-1
    • about 9.8 J kg^-1
    • about 1.3 x 10^8 J kg^-1

  10. Two equal point masses of 1000 kg are 4.0 m apart. What is the gravitational potential at their midpoint?

    • 0 J kg^-1
    • -1.3 x 10^-7 J kg^-1
    • -3.3 x 10^-8 J kg^-1
    • -6.7 x 10^-8 J kg^-1

  11. A 10 kg mass is at a point where the gravitational potential is -2.0 x 10^7 J kg^-1. What is its gravitational potential energy?

    • -2.0 x 10^8 J
    • -2.0 x 10^6 J
    • 2.0 x 10^8 J
    • -2.0 x 10^7 J

  12. What is the minimum speed needed for a body to escape from Earth's surface, given GM/R = 6.25 x 10^7 J kg^-1?

    • about 2.2 x 10^4 m s^-1
    • about 7.9 x 10^3 m s^-1
    • about 1.1 x 10^4 m s^-1
    • about 1.1 x 10^3 m s^-1

  13. A 2.0 kg object is raised by 1.0 m near Earth's surface, where the change in potential is g h. What is the increase in gravitational potential energy?

    • 9.8 J
    • 19.6 J
    • 0.2 J
    • 2.0 J

  14. Which quantity is assumed constant when using the gravitational potential approximation ΔV = g Δh?

    • Orbital radius
    • Universal constant
    • Potential energy
    • Field strength

  15. What type of force must be overcome to move a mass away from a planet?

    • Repulsive force
    • Centripetal force
    • Attractive force
    • Frictional force

  16. What must be supplied to completely separate two gravitationally bound masses to infinity?

    • Force
    • Energy
    • Charge
    • Momentum

  17. As a mass moves closer to a planet from infinity, what happens to its gravitational potential?

    • Becomes more positive
    • Becomes more negative
    • Remains zero
    • Reaches infinity

  18. A body at the surface of a planet of mass M and radius R is given enough speed to escape. Which expression gives this escape speed?

    • v = sqrt(2 G M / R)
    • v = 2 G M / R
    • v = sqrt(G M / R)
    • v = G M / R

  19. A 3.0 kg mass moves to a point where its gravitational potential increases by 5.0 J kg^-1. What is the change in its gravitational potential energy?

    • 15 J
    • 5.0 J
    • 1.7 J
    • -15 J

  20. What value does gravitational potential approach as distance from a point mass increases towards infinity?

    • Constant negative value
    • Infinity
    • Zero
    • Minus infinity

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