DP Physics (first assessment 2025)

Question EXE.2.HL.TZ0.16a

Date	Example questions Example questions	Marks available	[Maximum mark: 4]	Reference code	EXE.2.HL.TZ0.16a
Level	HL	Paper	2	Time zone	TZ0
Command term	Determine	Question number	a	Adapted from	N/A

[Maximum mark: 4]

EXE.2.HL.TZ0.16a

(a)

The radius of the dwarf planet Pluto is 1.19 x 10⁶ m. The acceleration due to gravity at its surface is 0.617 m s⁻².

Determine the escape speed for an object at the surface of Pluto.

[4]

Markscheme

$v_{esc} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G M}{r}}$ AND $g = \frac{G M}{r^{2}}$ seen ✓

$v_{esc} = \sqrt{\frac{2 g r^{2}}{r}}$ ✓

Leading to $v_{esc} = \sqrt{2 g r}$ ✓

1.2 km s⁻¹✓

Syllabus sections