Solar System & Orbital Motion

Solar System & Orbital Motion Quiz

Spec 3.8.2 · Oxford AQA IGCSE Physics: Quiz

Studying this course? Keep your progress in one place.

Pick an answer for each. Quizzes never use energy.

5 questions, one answer each

Each answer is checked as you go, with why.

See all 5 questions

  1. 1. How many planets orbit the Sun in our Solar System?

    • A. Six
    • B. Seven
    • C. Eight
    • D. Nine

  2. 2. Which galaxy contains our Sun?

    • A. Andromeda
    • B. The Milky Way
    • C. Triangulum
    • D. The Whirlpool Galaxy

  3. 3. What force acts as the centripetal force keeping a satellite in orbit around the Earth?

    • A. Magnetism
    • B. Air resistance
    • C. Gravity
    • D. Electrostatic force

  4. 4. What effect does the centripetal force have on an object in a stable circular orbit?

    • A. It increases the object's speed continuously
    • B. It decreases the object's speed continuously
    • C. It changes the object's direction but not its speed
    • D. It has no effect on the object's motion

  5. 5. A satellite orbits the Earth at a large radius, then is moved to a much smaller orbital radius while remaining in a stable circular orbit. What must happen to its orbital speed?

    • A. It must decrease, since gravity is weaker at all radii
    • B. It must increase, since a smaller radius corresponds to a stronger centripetal force and requires a higher orbital speed
    • C. It stays exactly the same regardless of radius
    • D. Orbital speed and orbital radius are unrelated

Quiz