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Subjects · Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry

Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry: Gravity

How often Gravity comes up on the Physics & Chemistry papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 6 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Gravity, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Gravity.

(a)The distance between two masses is doubled. The gravitational force between them becomes…
  1. Half as big
  2. One quarter as big
  3. Four times bigger
(b)Approximate value of G, the universal gravitational constant?
  1. 6.0 × 10²³ mol⁻¹
  2. 9.8 m s⁻²
  3. 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻²
(c)Why does an astronaut weigh less on the Moon than on Earth?
  1. The Moon's gravitational field strength is smaller
  2. There is no air on the Moon to press down on their bodies
  3. Their mass is smaller on the Moon than on Earth
Show the answers

(a) One quarter as big

(b) 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻²

(c) The Moon's gravitational field strength is smaller

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Gravity.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1(d)
2024Q1(a)
2023Q6(a)
2022Q1(d)
2021Q6(a)
2019Q2
2018Q1(a)
2017Q6(a)
2016Q2

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Gravity questions

Gravity, 2 marks

Which statement about g and G is correct?

  1. g is constant everywhere, but G varies with the planet
  2. Both g and G vary from planet to planet and with height
  3. G is the same everywhere; g varies from place to place
Show the answer

G is the same everywhere; g varies from place to place

G is the universal gravitational constant (6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻²). g, the acceleration due to gravity, depends on the planet and on height: g = GM/R².

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q2
2024Q2
2023Q2
2022Not asked
2021Q2
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Q1(c)
2016Q2

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Gravity questions

Gravity, 2 marks

Newton's law of gravitation: the force between two masses is proportional to?

  1. The sum of the masses
  2. The distance between them
  3. The product of the masses
Show the answer

The product of the masses

F = G m1 m2 ÷ d². The force depends on the masses multiplied together and gets weaker as the distance grows.

Gravity, 3 marks

The distance between two masses is doubled. The gravitational force becomes?

  1. Twice as big
  2. One quarter as big
  3. Half as big
Show the answer

One quarter as big

It is an inverse square law. Doubling d makes d² four times bigger, so the force drops to 1/4.

Gravity, 2 marks

In F = G m1 m2 / d², what is G?

  1. The gravitational constant
  2. The acceleration due to gravity
  3. The weight of the object
Show the answer

The gravitational constant

G is the same everywhere in the universe. Small g (9.8 m/s² at Earth's surface) is the acceleration due to gravity and changes from place to place.

Other Physics & Chemistry topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics & Chemistry