SOLVED SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

Problem 1. Find the potential energy of gravitational interaction of a point mass m and a thin uniform rod of
mass M and length l, if they are located along a straight line at a distance a from each other
M
Solution: Consider small element dx of the rod whose mass dm  dx
l

M 
Gm  dx 
 dU     
x
M m
a 
GmM dx GmM a l
 U   dU  
  x
  ln x a dx
a
a l x

GmM a
 U log e  .
  a 

Problem 2. Two equal masses of 6.40 kg each are separated by a m P

distance of 0.16m. A small body is released from a point P 
equidistant from the two masses and at a distance 0.06 m r
0.06m
from the line joining them as shown in figure.
m m
(a) Calculate the velocity of this body when it passes A B
0.08m Q 0.08m
through Q. 0.16m
(b) Compute the acceleration of this body at P and Q if its
mass is 0.1 kg.
Solution: The total energy of the mass at P is equal to its potential energy. Thus, we have
mm mm mm
E  G G  2G
r r r
where r is the distance of point P from either mass
r  [(0.06) 2  (0.08)2 ]  0.1m .
The potential energy of mass m at Q is given by
mm mm mm
G G  2G
0.08 0.08 0.08
Let v be the velocity of mass m at Q. Then its kinetic energy
1
 mv 2
2
(a) Applying the law of conservation of energy between positions P & Q , we get
mm mm 1
2G  2G  mv2
r 0.08 2
mm mm 1
2G  2G  mv2
0.1 0.08 2
Substituting, G  6.67  1011 Nm2/ kg2 and m = 6.4 kg, we get
 v  6.53  105 m/sec.
(b) At point Q, there is no acceleration of the body because the net gravitational force due
to two masses is zero. When the body is at P, then there are two forces of equal
magnitude along PA and PB. The magnitude of either force is
mm
G  f (say).
r2
The resultant force F acting on m along PQ is given by
F  2f cos 
where   APQ .
0.08
From figure, tan    1.333
0.06
or   53.13º
Gmm
 F  2f cos   1.2f  1.2
r2
1.2  6.67  1011  0.1 6.4
  5.12  109 N
0.01
Acceleration  5.12  109 / 0.1 ]
 5.12  108 m / sec 2 .

Problem 3. A satellite revolves round a planet in an elliptical orbit. Its maximum and minimum distances
from the planet are 1.5  107 m and 0.5  107 m respectively. If the speed of the satellite at
the farthest point be 5  103 m/s, calculate the speed at the nearest point.
Solution: In case of elliptical orbit, the speed of satellite varies constantly as shown in figure. Thus
according to the law of conservation of angular momentum, the satellite must move faster at
the point of closest approach (Perigee) than at the farthest point (Apogee).
  
We know that L  r  mv
 
At the two above mentioned points r and v are mutually perpendicular..

Therefore, r  mv  rmv sin 90º  rmv
Hence, at the two points. v1
L  mv1r1  mv2 r2 r2 r1
PERIGEE APPOGEE
v1 r2 m
or 
v 2 r1 v2
Substituting the given values, we get
5  103 0.5  107

v2 1.5  107

v 2  1.5  104 m/sec.

Problem 4. A planet of mass m moves along an ellipse around the sun so that its maximum and minimum
distances from the sun are equal to r1 and r2 respectively. Find the angular momentum of
 this planet relative to the centre of the sun.
Solution: As the angular momentum of the planet is constant, we have
mv1r1  mv 2 r2
or v1r1  v2 r2 ...(i)
Further, the total energy of the planet is also constant, hence
GM m 1 GM m 1
  mv12    mv 22 v1
r1 2 r2 2
r1 S r2
where M is the mass of the sun.
 1 1  v2 v2 V2
 GM     2  1
 r2 r1  2 2

 r  r  v2 r 2 v 2 v1r1
or GM  1 2   1 12  1 (as v 2  from (i))
 r1r2  2r2 2 r2

 r  r  v2  r 2 
or GM  1 2   1  12  1
 r1r2  2  r2 

v12  r12  r22 

  
2  r22 

2GM(r1  r2 )r22 2GMr2

 v12  
r1r2 (r12  r22 ) r1 (r1  r2 )

 2GMr2 
v1   
 r1 (r1  r2 ) 
Now Angular momentum  mv1r1

 2GMr1r2 
m  .
 (r1  r2 ) 

Problem 5. A uniform sphere has a mass M and radius R. Find the pressure P inside the sphere, caused
by gravitational compression, as a function of the distance r from the centre. Evaluate P at
the centre of the Earth, assuming it to be a uniform sphere.
Solution: Consider a strip of thichness dr and area ds at a distance r from the centre of the sphere as
shown in figure.
Its mass dm = (ds) (dr) 
Inward gravitational pull dF on the element dr is due to the part of earth contained within
radius r.
4  dr
ds
G(ds dr)   r 3  r
 3  …(i)
2 O
r
where  = density of sphere
For equilibrium of the element
 dp . ds = – dF
4 
dP.ds  (G ds dr)  r  2
3 
4
or dP   G2 r dr …(ii)
3
In order to find P, we integrate this expression within proper limits. Thus
P r
4 2
0 dP   3 G R r dr
[Here at the outer end, the pressure P = 0]
r
4  r2 
 P   G2  
3  2 R
4
  G2 (r 2  R 2 )
6
4  r2 
  G2 R 2 1  2 
6  R 

3 r 2  GM 2
 1  2  …(iii)
8  R  R 4
Pressure at the centre of the earth:
r  0 , R = 6400 km, M  6  1024 kg
and G  6.6  1011 N  m 2 / kg 2
Substituting these value in eq. (iii), we get
P  1.69  1011 N / m2 1.65  106 atmosphere.

Problem 6. Two satellites of same mass are launched in the same orbit round the earth so as the rotate
opposite to each other. They collide inelastically and stick together as wreckage. Obtain the
total energy of the system before and just after the collision. Describe the subsequent motion
of the wreckage.
Solution: The two satellites round the earth are shown in figure.
Potential energy of the satellite in its orbit
 GM m / r
Kinetic energy = G M m/2r
where m is mass of satellite, M is the mass of the earth and r is the orbital radius.
Total energy = K. E. + P.E.
GM m GM m GM m
   v v
2r r 2r
When there are two satellites, the total energy would be m M m
E
 GMm   GMm   GMm 
      
 2r   2r   r 
 Let after collision, v be the velocity of wreckage by the law of conservation of momentum.
mv  mv  (m  m)v
m  m  (m  m)
   0 .
The wreckage of mass (2 m) has no kinetic energy, but it has only potential energy,
GM (2m)
So, energy after collision  
r
Now the combined mass has zero velocity just after collision and therefore, the wreckage
stops rotating falls down under gravity.

Problem 7. A double star is a system of two stars moving around the centre of inertia of the system due
to gravitation. Find the distance between the components of the double star, if its total mass
equals M and period of revolution is T.
Solution: The situation is shown in figure.
Centre of
Here m1r  m 2 (d  r) Inertia
O
 (m1  m 2 )r  m 2 d m1 m2

m 2d r (d–r)
r
(m1  m 2 ) d

Also M  (m1  m 2 )
As gravitational force provides the necessary centripetal force for rotation, we have
m1m 2 m1 v12 m1 v12 (m1  m2 )
G  
d2 r m 2d
1/ 2 1/ 2
 Gm 22   G 
 v1     m2  
 (m1  m 2 )d   Md 

2 2r
Now T 
 v1

2r 2d 3 / 2  m2d 

   as r  M 
m2 (G / M d) GM  

T d3/ 2  T 
2

  or d  3
  GM .
2 GM  2 

Problem 8. Three particles, each of mass m are situated at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side
length a. The only forces acting on the particles are their mutual gravitational forces. It is
desired that each particle moves in a circle while maintaining the original separation a. Find
the initial velocity that should be given to each particle and also the time period of the circular
motion.
Solution: The situation is shown in figure. The radius of circular path is
r  OA  OB  OC  (A N / cos30º )
 a/2 a C m
 
3/2 3 a a
The gravitational force at A, due to mass m at C FAC
 Gmm O
FAC  along AC r
a2 F
Similarly, the gravitational force at A, due to mass m at B A 30º N B
m a F m
AB
 G mm
FAB  along AB
a2
The resultant F of these forces would be along AO. As the angle between the two forces is
60º, hence the resultant force F is given by
2 2
F  (FAC  FAB  2FAC FAB cos60º )

  Gmm  2  Gmm  2  Gmm  Gmm  1 

=   2    2   2  2  2  . 
  a   a   a  a  2 

Gmm
 [ 3]
a2
This force provides the necessary centripetal force for rotation in circular path i.e.,
mv 2 Gmm mv 2 Gmm
 3 or  2 3
r a 2
(a / 3) a
1/ 2
 Gm 
 Required initial speed v   a 
 
2r
Time period T 
v
2(a / 3) 2a 3 / 2
  .
(Gm / a)1/ 2 (3Gm)1/ 2

Problem 9. Two satellites S1 and S2 revolve round a planet in coplanar circular orbits in the same sense.
Their periods of revolutions are 1 hour and 8 hour respectively. The radius of the orbit of
S1  104 km. When S2 is closest it to S1 , find
(i) the speed of S2 relative to S1 .
(ii) the angular speed of S2 as observed by an astronaut in S1 .
Solution:
(i) Let the radius of the orbit S2
 r2 km
42 3
We know that T 2  r
GM
 42 3 42 3
Hence T12  r1 and T22  r2
GM GM
3
T12 r13 1  104 km 

 T2 r3 or  
2 2 64  r2 km 

1 104
or  or r2  4  104 km
4 r2

2r1 2  104
Now v1  
T1 1

 2  104 km per hour

2r2 2  4  104
and v2  
T2 8

   104 km per hour

| v 2  v1 |   10 4 km per hour

| v 2  v1 |   104
(ii) Relative angular velocity 21  
(r2  r1 ) (4  10 4  10 4 )


 radian/hour
3
The negative sign shown the sense of rotation of 21 in clockwise direction. It means
that s 2 appears to be moving clockwise as seen by s1 .

Problem 10. An artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the earth with a speed equal to one
fourth the magnitude of escape velocity from the earth.
(i) Determine the height of the satellite above the earth’s surface.
(ii) If the satellite is stopped suddenly in its orbit and allowed to fall freely onto the earth,
find the speed with which it hits the surface of the earth.
Solution:
(i) Let M and R be the mass and radius of the earth respectively. Let m be the mass of
satellite. Here escape velocity from earth v e  (2Rg)

ve
Velocity of satellite vs   (2 Rg) / 4 …(i)
4

 GM   R 2g 
Further vs     
 r  Rh

2 R2g
 vs  …(ii)
Rh
From equation (i) and (ii), we get
h = 7R = 44800 km
(ii) Now total energy at height h = total energy at earth’s surface (principle of conservation
 of energy). Let it earth’s surface with velocity v.
m 1 m
 0  GM  mv 2  GM
Rh 2 R
1 2 GM m GM m
or mv   ( h  7R )
2 R 7R
Solving we get v  12 Rg / 7

 v  (1.714  6400  10 3  9.8)  10.368 km/sec.

Problem 11. A particle is fired vertically upward with a speed of 9.8 km/s. Find the maximum height
attained by the particle. Radius of earth = 6400 km and g at the surface = 9.8 m/s2. Consider
only earth’s gravitation.
GMm
Solution : At the surface of the earth, the potential energy of the earth-particle system is  with
R
1
usual symbols. The kinetic energy is m 20 where 0  9.8 km/s. At the maximum height
2
the kinetic energy is zero. If the maximum height reached is H, the potential energy of the
GMm
earth-particle system at this instant is  . Using conservation of energy,,
R H
GMm 1 GMm
  m 20   .
R 2 RH
Writing GM = gR2 and dividing by m,
20  gR 2
 gR  
2 R H
R2 20
or R
RH 2g

R2
or RH
2
R 0
2g

Putting the values of R, 0 and g on the right side,

(6400km) 2
or RH (6400km) 2
(9.8km / s) 2   27300km
6400km  1500km
2  9.8m / s 2
or, H  (27300  6400)km  20900km.