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F = ma (First 10)
Gravitation
FMA-2026-07 · 2026 F = ma (AAPT)

2026 F = ma Exam — Question 7

The James Webb telescope lies at a point called the Lagrange Point 2 or L2. This is a point where the telescope would remain stationary in a frame rotating with Earth’s orbit around the sun, so a telescope placed exactly at L2 would be in an equilibrium position relative to Earth’s orbit. What is the stability of this equilibrium point with respect to radial and tangential perturbations?
Source: Question 7, 2026 F = ma Exam, © 2026 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the U.S. Physics Team. Adapted by PhysicsTrainer: reformatted into a separate question and answer choices for online multiple-choice practice; any shared setup from nearby questions is repeated here. Not affiliated with or endorsed by AAPT or the U.S. Physics Team.