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Quizzes > Science > Earth & Space Science

Earth & Gravity Quiz: Test Your Scientific Knowledge

Think you know controlled experiments and variables? Take the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz banner with earth planet test tubes arrow gravity symbol on dark blue background

This Earth & Gravity quiz helps you practice testable ideas, pick out variables in a controlled experiment, and see how gravity and other scientific laws work on Earth. Use it to check gaps before class or an exam, then try the interactive version for quick, bite-size practice.

What force keeps objects anchored to the Earth's surface?
Electromagnetism
Gravity
Friction
Nuclear force
The force of gravity arises from the mutual attraction between masses and keeps us on the ground. It acts on every object with mass, pulling it toward Earth's center. Without gravity, objects would float away into space.
Approximately what is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface?
15 m/s²
0 m/s²
1.6 m/s²
9.8 m/s²
Near Earth's surface, objects accelerate downward at roughly 9.8 meters per second squared, regardless of their mass. This is a standard value used in many physics calculations. Small variations occur with altitude and latitude.
What term describes the amount of matter in an object, regardless of gravity?
Volume
Weight
Density
Mass
Mass is an intrinsic property of matter, representing how much substance an object contains. It does not change whether you are on Earth, the Moon, or in space. Weight, by contrast, is the gravitational force acting on that mass.
What is the force of gravity on an object called, which is mass times gravitational acceleration?
Mass
Momentum
Force of universal attraction
Weight
Weight is defined as the force due to gravity acting on a mass (W = mg). It depends on both the mass of the object and the local gravitational acceleration. On different planets, your weight changes even though your mass remains constant.
Who formulated the universal law of gravitation?
Isaac Newton
Albert Einstein
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Sir Isaac Newton published his universal law of gravitation in 1687, describing how every two masses attract each other. This was a cornerstone of classical mechanics. Einstein later refined gravity under general relativity, but Newton's law remains accurate for many situations.
What is the mathematical expression for Newton's law of universal gravitation?
F = m * a
E = mc²
F = G * m1 * m2 / r²
F = G + m1 / r
Newton's law states that the force between two masses is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The constant G is the gravitational constant. This formula applies to point masses or spherically symmetric bodies.
Which change will increase the gravitational force between two objects?
Doubling the separation distance
Removing one mass
Doubling both masses
Halving both masses
According to F = G m1 m2 / r², increasing either mass increases the force. Doubling both masses makes the numerator four times larger, so the force quadruples. Increasing distance would decrease the force.
If you travel from Earth to the Moon, what happens to your weight?
It remains the same
It decreases
It increases
It becomes zero
Weight depends on local gravity. The Moon's gravity is about one-sixth of Earth's, so your weight would decrease proportionally. Your mass stays constant but gravitational pull is weaker.
Which planet has a stronger surface gravity than Earth?
Jupiter
Mercury
Mars
Pluto
Jupiter is much more massive than Earth, giving it a stronger gravitational pull at its cloud tops. Although you cannot stand on its gaseous surface, the force is higher than on Earth. Smaller planets like Mercury and Mars have weaker gravity.
Due to Earth's rotation, what shape is the planet?
Flat disk
Oblate spheroid
Prolate spheroid
Perfect sphere
Centrifugal force from Earth's rotation causes it to bulge at the equator, making it slightly wider there than pole-to-pole. This shape is called an oblate spheroid. A perfect sphere would not account for this bulge.
How does the distance between two objects affect their gravitational force?
It varies inversely with the distance
It is independent of distance
It varies inversely with the square of the distance
It varies directly with the distance
Newton's law states that force decreases as the square of the separation increases (inverse-square law). If you double the distance, the force becomes one-quarter. This principle applies to many forces like light intensity.
Which experimental method did Galileo use to study acceleration due to gravity?
Pendulum swing
Inclined plane experiments
Free-fall in vacuum
Atomic clocks
Galileo rolled balls down inclined planes to slow their acceleration and measure times more accurately. From these experiments, he deduced that acceleration was constant regardless of mass. This laid the groundwork for Newton's laws.
What term describes the rate of change of velocity in a falling object?
Speed
Displacement
Force
Acceleration
Acceleration measures how quickly velocity changes over time (a = ?v/?t). In free-fall near Earth, this acceleration is approximately 9.8 m/s² downward. Speed is just the magnitude of velocity.
In a free-fall experiment, what is typically the independent variable?
Air temperature
Object color
Drop height
Time measured
The independent variable is what you change deliberately; in free-fall tests you vary the height from which an object is dropped. You then measure the dependent variable, usually time or final speed. Control variables include mass and shape.
In an experiment measuring time to fall, what is the dependent variable?
Distance
Gravity
Time
Mass
The dependent variable is what you measure; in free-fall experiments, that is usually the time it takes to reach the ground. This time depends on the height of the drop and gravitational acceleration. Mass is often controlled or held constant.
What is a testable idea in the scientific method?
Fact
Theory
Law
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation based on observations that can be tested through experiments or further observation. Theories are broader explanations supported by evidence, and laws describe patterns. Only hypotheses are directly tested.
Which hypothesis correctly predicts gravitational force behavior?
If distance decreases force decreases
If distance increases then force increases
If mass increases then force increases
If mass decreases then force is constant
Gravitational force is proportional to the product of masses and inversely proportional to the square of distance. Therefore, increasing mass raises force. Increasing distance actually lowers the force.
What are the SI units of the gravitational constant G?
J·s
N·m²/kg²
m/s²
kg·m/s²
The gravitational constant G is measured in newton square meters per kilogram squared, reflecting its role in F = G m1 m2 / r². Newtons incorporate kg·m/s², so G has units N·m²/kg².
What term describes the near-weightless conditions experienced in orbit?
Microgravity
Hypergravity
Zero gravity
Nanogravity
Astronauts in orbit are in continuous free-fall, creating conditions often called microgravity, not true zero gravity. Small residual accelerations remain due to atmospheric drag and orbital maneuvers. Zero gravity is a misnomer.
Why do astronauts appear weightless in orbit around Earth?
They are stationary relative to Earth
There is no gravity
They are too far from Earth
They are in continuous free-fall around Earth
Orbiting spacecraft and occupants are falling toward Earth but moving forward fast enough to keep missing it, creating a continuous free-fall state. This produces the sensation of weightlessness. Gravity is still about 90% as strong at typical orbit altitudes.
What is the formula for gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface?
U = mgh
U = -G m1 m2 / r
U = Fd
U = ½mv²
Near Earth's surface, gravitational potential energy is approximated by U = mgh, where h is height above a reference level. The more general form U = -G m1 m2 / r applies at cosmological scales. The mgh formula is valid when h is small relative to Earth's radius.
Approximately what percentage of your Earth weight would you experience on Mars?
62%
17%
38%
100%
Mars' surface gravity is about 0.38 that of Earth, so you would weigh roughly 38% as much there. This follows from the ratio of their masses and radii in Newton's law. Your mass remains constant but gravitational pull changes.
What phenomenon occurs when falling objects reach a constant velocity due to air resistance?
Terminal velocity
Projectile motion
Free-fall
Buoyant force
Terminal velocity is reached when the upward drag force balances the downward gravitational force, resulting in zero net acceleration. Objects then fall at a constant speed. The value depends on shape, mass, and air density.
How does air resistance affect falling objects in an experiment?
It increases mass
It reduces acceleration at high speeds
It has no effect
It changes gravity
Air resistance opposes motion, and as an object's speed increases, the drag force increases, reducing net acceleration. At high speeds, this can lead to terminal velocity. In vacuum, however, all objects accelerate equally.
How does Earth's rotation influence apparent gravity at the equator?
It has no effect
It reverses direction
It increases it
It slightly reduces it due to centrifugal force
Earth's rotation produces a centrifugal effect that opposes gravity most at the equator. This reduces effective weight by about 0.3% compared to the poles. The result is a small variation in measured g.
Which factor does NOT affect the gravitational force between two objects?
Electrical charge
Distance
Mass
Universal gravitational constant
Gravitational force depends only on mass, distance, and the gravitational constant G. Electrical charges involve electromagnetic forces, not gravity. Therefore charge does not influence gravitational attraction.
What is the approximate orbital radius for a geostationary satellite above Earth?
About 35,000 km
About 42,000 km
About 100,000 km
About 1,000 km
A geostationary orbit requires a radius of about 42,164 km from Earth's center so that the orbital period matches Earth's rotation. The altitude above sea level is about 35,786 km. This allows the satellite to remain fixed over one longitude.
What distinguishes free-fall from projectile motion?
Free-fall only occurs in vacuum
Free-fall has no initial horizontal velocity
Projectile motion objects are stationary
Projectile motion has no gravity
Free-fall refers to motion under gravity only, typically vertical with zero initial horizontal component. Projectile motion involves both horizontal and vertical components under gravity. Both occur under gravity, but trajectories differ.
What term describes the local variations in Earth's gravitational field due to mass distribution?
Gravitational waves
Magnetic anomalies
Tides
Gravity anomalies
Gravity anomalies arise from density variations in Earth's crust and mantle that locally strengthen or weaken the gravitational field. Scientists map these anomalies for geophysical studies. They are distinct from gravitational waves, which are ripples in spacetime.
Why is the gravitational acceleration slightly stronger at the poles than at the equator?
Earth's magnetic field strengthens gravity
Poles are closer to Earth's center and no centrifugal reduction
Oceans add mass at poles
Earth's tilt increases gravity
Earth's polar radius is shorter than its equatorial radius, so the surface at poles is closer to the center of mass. Additionally, centrifugal force from rotation is zero at the poles, so gravity is slightly stronger there than at the equator.
What apparatus did Henry Cavendish use to measure the gravitational constant G?
Interferometer
Pendulum clock
Torsion balance
Drop tower
Cavendish's famous experiment in 1798 used a torsion balance with two small masses and two large masses suspended on a wire. By measuring the tiny twist caused by gravitational attraction, he calculated G. This method remains the basis for modern G measurements.
Which formula describes how gravitational acceleration g changes with altitude h above Earth?
g' = g * (R/(R + h))^2
g' = g + h/R
g' = g/h^2
g' = g - h*g
The gravitational acceleration at altitude h is given by g' = g (R/(R + h))², where R is Earth's radius. This comes from substituting r = R + h into Newton's law. It shows that g decreases with altitude.
What phenomenon arises from differences in gravitational pull on different parts of an extended body?
Tidal forces
Buoyancy
Surface tension
Coriolis effect
Tidal forces result from the gradient in gravitational pull across an object's extent, such as different forces on opposite sides of Earth due to the Moon. These forces cause tides and can deform extended bodies. They are distinct from inertial Coriolis effects.
What term describes the equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field approximating mean sea level?
Datum plane
Ellipsoid
Toposurface
Geoid
The geoid is the equipotential surface of Earth's gravity field that best fits mean sea level globally. It is an irregular shape due to mass distribution variations. Geodetic measurements reference this surface for elevations.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the role of a testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon -

    Explore how hypotheses guide experiments by providing a clear framework to investigate natural events and predict outcomes.

  2. Define what is a controlled experiment -

    Learn the essential elements of controlling variables to establish reliable cause-and-effect relationships in scientific studies.

  3. Differentiate between types of variables in experiments -

    Identify independent, dependent, and controlled variables and understand their roles in designing valid experiments.

  4. Analyze examples of scientific laws -

    Examine landmark laws of nature, such as laws of motion and gravity, to see how they summarize consistent patterns in the physical world.

  5. Apply knowledge in the earth and gravity quiz -

    Test your grasp of key concepts through interactive questions that reinforce learning and highlight areas for review.

  6. Evaluate experimental outcomes -

    Interpret data sets, assess experiment validity, and draw evidence-based conclusions to sharpen scientific reasoning skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Nature of a Scientific Hypothesis -

    A hypothesis is a testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon by making clear, measurable predictions (e.g., why objects accelerate at g on Earth). Mnemonic HIPPO (Hypothesis Is Precise, Predicts Outcomes) helps recall the need for clarity and testability. For more guidance, see the National Science Teaching Association's resources.

  2. What Is a Controlled Experiment -

    A controlled experiment isolates one variable to test its effect while keeping all other factors constant - this is what is a controlled experiment about. For example, dropping identical balls in a vacuum chamber tests gravity without air resistance. Definitions from university lab manuals emphasize control groups and consistent procedures.

  3. Types of Variables in Experiments -

    Understanding the types of variables in experiments - independent, dependent, and controlled - is crucial; remember "IDC" (Independent changes, Dependent measures, Constants held) to keep them straight. In a free-fall study, drop height is independent, fall time is dependent, and air pressure is controlled. University lab guidelines from MIT and Stanford outline these classifications in detail.

  4. Examples of Scientific Laws -

    When studying examples of scientific laws, you'll encounter Newton's law of universal gravitation (F = G m₝ m₂ / r²) and Boyle's law for gases (PV = k). These concise formulas emerge from repeated observations and experiments documented by NASA and the American Physical Society. Knowing these laws deepens understanding of gravitational and physical phenomena.

  5. Key Concepts in Earth & Gravity -

    The gravitational acceleration on Earth is approximately 9.81 m/s², a value you'll frequently encounter on any earth and gravity quiz or in pendulum experiments. Simple experiments - like timing a swinging pendulum - allow accurate measurement of g and reinforce the link between theory and observation. For experiment designs and data analysis tips, consult NASA's educational portal.

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