382
SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST
I am able to ...
Section
NotÂ yet
Nearly there
Ready to move on
apply Newtonâs law of gravitation
17.1
calculate the gravitational field strength from one or two spherical bodies
17.1
apply the law of gravitation to orbiting bodies
17.1
describe Keplerâs laws
17.1
realise that Keplerâs laws are a consequence of Newtonâs law of gravitation and the laws of mechanics
17.1

work with gravitational potential energy and gravitational potential
17.2
understand gravitational equipotential surfaces
17.2
derive the expression for total energy of an orbiting body
17.3
appreciate the significance of the sign of the total energy of a body in a gravitational field
17.3
calculate the escape speed form any point in a gravitational field
17.3
383
REFLECTION
Can you solve problems with Newtonâs law of gravitation? Do you understand the concept of a gravitational field? Can you solve problems involving gravitational field strength? Can you describe Keplerâs three laws on the motion of the planets?

Do you understand the concepts of gravitational potential and gravitational potential energy? Can you solve problems involving gravitational potential and gravitational potential energy? Do you understand the concept of escape speed? Can you solve problems with energy conservation in gravitational fields? Can you explain the apparent weightlessness of objects in orbit?
EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS
You can find questions in the style of IB exams in the digital coursebook.