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Motion in the universe

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Question 27

An exoplanetary system contains a central star and two orbiting celestial bodies: a planet and a comet.

a.

Name the force that acts as the centripetal force keeping both the planet and the comet in their orbits around the star.

[1]
b.

The schematic diagram below shows the orbits of these two celestial bodies around their star.

Schematic diagram of planetary and cometary orbits around a central star.

Identify which Greek symbol (Φ\PhiΦ, Ψ\PsiΨ, or Ω\OmegaΩ) represents:

  • the central star,
  • the planet,
  • the comet.
[3]
c.

Explain why it is physically possible for the planet and the comet to collide at some point in the future.

[2]

Motion in the universe Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Motion in the universe