Sr. No. Title Page No.

GRAVITATION
Synopsis
01 Motion Of Planets 01
02 Newton’s Law Of Gravitation 03
03 Gravitational And Inertial Mass 04
04 Acceleration Due To Gravity 04
05 Gravitational Field And Gravitational Field Intensity 07
06 Gravitational Potential 07
07 Gravitational Potential Energy 08
08 Satellite 09
09 Geo-Stationary Satellites 11
10 Escape Velocity 12
11 Launching Of An Artificial Satellite Around The Earth 12

MCQs
12 Classwork 14
13 Assignment 22
14 Previous Year NEET MCQs 31
15 Previous Year AIIMS MCQs 38
16 Previous Year JIPMER MCQs 43
17 NCERT Unsolved 45
18 NCERT Exemplar 46

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GRAVITATION SYNOPSIS

MOTION OF PLANETS
Our solar system consists of a Sun which is stationary at the centre of the universe and nine planets
which revolve around the sun in separate orbits. The names of these planets are : Mercury, Venus,
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The planet Mercury is closest to the
Sun and Pluto is farthest.
There are certain celestial bodies which revolve around the planets. These are called ‘satellites’.
For example, moon revolves around the earth, hence moon is a satellite of the earth. Similarly,
Mars has two satellites Jupiter has twelve satellites, Saturn has ten satellites, and so on.

Kepler’s Laws
Kepler found important regularities in the motion of the planets. These regularities are known
as ‘Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion’.
(a) First Law (Law Of Orbits): All planets move around the sun in elliptical orbits, having the sun
at one focus of the orbit.
(b) Second Law (Law Of Areas): A line joining any planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal
times, that is, the areal speed of the planet remains constant.
According to the second law, when the planet is nearest the sun, then its speed is maximum and
when it is farthest from the sun, then its speed is minimum. In figure, if a planet moves from
A to B in a given time-interval, and from C to D in the same time-interval, then the areas ASB
and CSD will be equal.
B
dA = area of the curved triangle SAB C A
d
1 1 1 r
 ( AB  SA )  ( r d  r )  r 2 d
2 2 2 
Thus, instantaneous areal speed of planet is S
dA 1 2 d 1 2 D
 r  r .....(i)
dt 2 dt 2
where  is the angular speed of the planet. Let I be the angular momentum of the planet about
the sun S and m the mass of the planet. Then
J = Iw = mr2 .....(ii)
where I ( = mr2) is the instantaneous moment of inertia of the planet about the sun S.
From eq. (i) and (ii), we have
dA J
 .....(iii)
dt 2 m
Now, the areal speed dA/dt of the planet is constant, according to Kepler’s second law. Therefore,
according to eq. (iii), the angular momentum J of the planet is also constant, that is, the angular
momentum of the planet is conserved. Thus, Kepler’s second law is equivalent to conservation of
angular momentum.

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(c) Third Law : (Law Of Periods) : The square of the period of revolution (time of one complete
revolution) of any planet around the sun is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis
of us elliptical orbit.
Proof : If a and b are the semimajor and the semi-minor axes of the ellipse, then the area of the
ellipse will be p ab. Hence if T be the period of revolution of the planet, then
area of the ellipse  ab 4 2 m 2 a 2 b 2
T  or T2 
areal speed J / 2m J2

b2
Let I be the semi-latus rectum of the elliptical orbit. Then l 
a

2 4 2 m 2 a 3l
 T  J2
or T2µa3

The period of revolution of the closest planet Mercury is 88 days, while that of the farthest planet pluto
is 248 years.
Newton’s Conclusion From Kepler’s Laws
Newton found that the orbits of most of the planets (except Mercury and Pluto) are nearly circular.
According to Kepler’s second law, the areal speed of a planet remains constant. This means that
in a circular orbit the linear speed of the planet will be constant. Since: the
planet is moving on a circular path; it is being acted upon by a centripetal force directed towards,
the centre (sun). This force is given by,
F = mv2/r
where m is the mass of the planet, v is its linear speed and r is the radius of its circular orbit.
If T is the period of revolution of the planet, then
linear distance travellel in one revolution 2 r
v 
period of revolution T
2
m  2 r  4 2 m r
F   
r T  T2
But, for circular orbit, according to Kepler’s third law, T2 = Kr3, where K is some constant.
4 2 mr 4 2  m 
 F    .....(i)
K r3 K  r2 
or F  m/r2
Thus, on the basis of Kepler’s laws, Newton drew the following conclusions:
• A planet is acted upon by a centripetal force which is directed towards the sun.
• This force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the planet and the sun
(F  1/r2).
• This force is directly proportional to the mass of the planet (F  m). Since the force between
the planet and the sun is mutual, the force F is also proportional to the mass ‘M of the sun (F
 M). Now, we can replace the constant 4 π 2/K in eq. (i) by GM, where G is another constant.
Then, we have
Mm
F G
r2
Newton stated that the above formula is not only applied between sun and planets, but also between
any two bodies (or particles) of the universe. If m1 and m2 be the masses of two panicles.

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NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITATION

Every two objects in the universe attract each other. This force of attraction is called ‘Gravitational
force’.
The force of attraction between ay two material particles is directly proportional to the product
of the mass of the particles and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
It acts along the line joining the two particles.
 
 F  m1m2 F12 r F21
m1 m2
1
and F 
r2

Gm1 m2
or F 
r2
G is the constant of proportionality which is called Newton’s gravitation constant.
G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2 /kg2
G = 6.67 × 10–8 dyne cm2/gm2
Dimensional formula of G is [M–1L3T–2]
In vector of from,
The force exerted by point mass (2) on points mass (1) will be
 Gm1m2
F12  rˆ12
r122
direction of r̂12 is from 1 to 2.
 Gm1 m2  Gm1m2
F21  3
rˆ21 , similarly F12  rˆ21
r12
r21
   
F21  F12 but, | F21 | | F12 |
From above two expression we can conclude the force exerted between two particles is equal
in magnitude but opposite in direction.
Gravitational force is the weakest force in nature.
Note:
The ratio of gravitational to electrostatic force between two electrons is of the other.
Fg
 10 43
Fe
The range of this force is maximum upto infinity.
It is due to very small value of G that we do not experience the gravitational force in out daily
life. But masses of celestial bodies are so large that the magnitude of the force of attraction between
them is appreciable. In the motion of planets and satellites, this force supplies the necessary
centripetal force due to which earth revolves around the sun and moon around the earth.
If the density of the earth is assumed to be uniform and a particle moves inside the earth then
the gravitational force decreases because the shell of the material lying outside the particle’s radial
position would not exert any force on the particle.

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GRAVITATIONAL AND INERTIAL MASS

(a) Inertial mass: When mass is defined on the property of inertia, it is termed as inertial mass
(b) Gravitational mass: When mass is defined on the property of gravity, it is called gravitational mass.
(c) Properties of inertial mass: It is equal to the ratio of magnitude of external force applied on the
body of the acceleration produced in it by that force.
m=F /a
• It is proportional to the quantity of matter present in the body.
• It is independent of shape, size and state of the body.
• It is not affected by the presence of other bodies near it.
• When various masses are put together, the inertial masses add according to the scalar laws
irrespective of the material of the bodies involved.

m0
• It i ncreases with i ncrease in vel ocity according to the relati on m = ,
1  ( v2 / v 2 )
where, m0 = rest mass of the body, C = velocity of light and v is the velocity of particle.
Point of remember:
• It is found that the ratio of two gravitational masses is same as the radio of their inertial mass.
• If a ball is dropped from the hole passing though the two poles and the centre of earth then it
will do S.H.M. in the tunnel.

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY

• Acceleration produced in a body due to the force of gravity is termed as acceleration due to gravity.
• The acceleration due to gravity is the rate of increase of velocity of a body falling towards the
earth.
• The acceleration due to gravity is equal to the force by which earth attracts a body of unit mass towards
its centre.
• Let ’m’ be the mass of body and F’ be the force of attraction at a distance ‘r’ from the centre of
earth then acceleration due to gravity (g) at that place will be
F GM e
g  2 , where Me = Mass of earth
m r
GM e
• The expression g  is free from ‘m’ (mass of body). This means that the value of ‘g’ does
r2
not depend upon the shape, size and mass of the body. Hence if two bodies of different masses,
shapes and sizes are allowed to fall freely, they will have the same acceleration. If they are allowed
to fall form the same height, they will reach the earth simultaneously.
• The acceleration of a body on the surface of the earth is g = 9.80 m/s2 or 981 cm/s2.
• Dimensional formula of g is [M0L1T–2]
• The value of acceleration due to gravity depends on the following factors.
(a) Height above the earth surface (b) Depth below the earth surface
(c) Shape of the earth (d) Axial rotation of the earth

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a) Height above the surface of earth: P
• As we go above the surface of the earth, the value of ‘g’ decreases.
Consider a point P at a distance r form the centre of earth. h
The acceleration due to gravity at point P is r

g  Re  gRe2
g 2
 g  g  2  g’ < g
 h  R
 e  h  r
1   O
 Re  Re
1
• As we go above the surface of the earth, the value of ‘g’ decreases. g  for r > Re
r2
 2h 
• If h << Re, (according to binomial expansion) g  g  1  
 Re 
• If r =  , g = 0. At infinite distance form the earth, the of ‘g’ becomes zero.
GMe
• Value of g at the surface of earth (h – 0)  g  2
Re
b) Below the surface of earth:
• The value of ‘g’ decreases on going below the surface of the earth.
• The value of ‘g’ at a distance h below this earth’s surface be gh & ‘g’ at the earth’s surface then
 h  gr
gh  g  1    g ( Re  h ) / Re  i.e. gh < g h
 Re  Re P
r is the distance form the centre of the earth (r < Re), r  Re – h r
• If d is the density of the earth then the force on point P is, O Re
MG 4 4
gh  r2 , where M r   ( Re  h )3 d ; r2 = (Re – h)2  gh =  G( Re  h) d
r 3 3
• At the centre of the earth, h = Re (i.e. r = 0) so g = 0
• Value of ‘g’ is maximum at the surface of earth.
• Graphical representation of variation in the value of g.
(c) Variation in value of ‘g’ on the surface of earth:
It is due to two reasons :
(1) Due To Shape Of Earth
(i) The earth is elliptical in shape, it is flattened
g ’s
at the poles and bulged out at the equator. Now, rt h
a
e ce
we know that g  1/Re2, therefore the value of g At rfa
s u
at the equator is minimum and the value of g at
the poles is maximum.
( Radius at poles is < Radius at equator)
GM Distance from the
ge  2 (At equator)
Re centre of earth

GM Inside the earth

gp  2 (At pole)
Rp  Re > Rp
Pole
Hence, ge < gp
gp Re2 Equator
(ii) g  2
e R p

(iii) Numerical value of Rp is twenty one kilometer less than Re. Pole
Therefore gp – ge = 0.02m/s2.

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(2) Due To Rotation Of Earth

• Earth is rotating about its own axis form west to 
earth with an angular velocity .
North pole
• On a latitude , point P is moving in circle with
radius ‘r’.
If we keep a body then some part of its gravitation
force will be used up for providing centripetal force,
therefore there is reduction in total gravitational force.
 Equator
As a result of this, value of ‘g’ decreases. O
• If  is the angular velocity of rotation of the earth,
Re is radius of the earth, then the observed value of
g at the latitude  is represented by g’ then.
g’ = g0 – 2 Re cos2 
or g’ = g0 – 0.0337 cos2 
where g0 is value of ‘g’ at the poles.
• At equator,  = o
g’ = g0 – 2 Re (Minimum value)
= g – 0.0337
• At poles,  = 90°

 cos  = 0
g’ = g (Maximum value)
• From the above expressions we can conclude that the value of ‘g’ at the surface of earth is maximum
at poles and minimum at the equator. Therefore weight of bodies is maximum at the poles and
will go on decreasing towards the equator. (It is minimum at the equator).
• If earth stops rotating about its axis ( = 0), the value of g will increases everywhere, except at
the poles. On the contrary, if there is increase in the angular velocity of earth, then except at the
poles the value of ‘g’ will decrease at all places.
• Maximum effect of rotation takes place at the equator while at poles, there is no effect.

g
• If   then, at equator weight of body will become zero but its mass remains unaltered.
Re

(a) That means if the earth starts rotating with an angular speed 17 times the present.
(b) If gequator = 0, in this condition, times period of earth’s rotation will become 1.41 hours instead of
24 hours.

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GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
AND GRAVITATIONAL FIELD INTENSITY
• It is defined as the space around the attracting body, in which its attraction (gravitational) can
be experienced.
• Intensity of gravitational field gravitational field strength: It is defined as the force experienced
by unit mass place at any point in the gravitational field.
• Gravitational field is a vector quantity.
• Suppose a body of mass M is placed at a distance r, then intensity of gravitational field at point
 GM e M
P will be; E  2 (  rˆ) r
r
• Unit of gravitational field strength is Newton/kg or m/sec2.
Dimension formula is [M°L1T–2].
• As the distance (r) increases, gravitational field strength decreases.
At r =  , value of intensity of gravitational field becomes zero.
• Intensity of gravitational field at a distance r form the centre of earth is
GM e
E g
r2 E E
1
Note : From this expression r2

GM e r
E 2
g
r
It is clear that the intesity of gravitational field at any place is equal to acceleration due to gravity.
• Change of intensity of gravitational field due to a point mass with respect to distance .
GM e
E
r2
• Relation between gravitational field and gravitational potential.
E = – V

dV
E
dr

GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL
• The work done in duringing a unit mass form infinity to a point in the gravitational field is called
the gravitational potential at that point.

GM
• Gravitational potential at a point P distance r form a point mass ‘M’ will be V  
r
• Unit of Gravitational potential is Joule/kg.
M
• Dimensional formula of Gravitational potential is [M°L2T–2].
r
• Gravitational potential is a scalar quantity. P
At r =  , V = 0

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GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY

• The gravitational potential energy of a body at a point is defined as the amount of work done
in bringing the body from infinity to that point against the field.
• The gravitational potential energy of mass ‘m’ in the gravitational field of mass M at a distance
r form it is,
M m
GMm r
U
r
where, r is distance between M and m.
• At any placed in gravitational field, gravitational potential is V, then the gravitational potential
energy of a mass ‘m’ at that place will be U = –mV.
• The gravitational potential energy of a particle of mass ‘m’ at a point distance ‘r’ from the centre
of earth is,
GM e m
U  , if r > Re
r
GMe m(3Re2  r 2 )
 , if r < Re
2 Re3

dU d  GMm  GMm
• Force between two particle if their potential energy U is F        2 minus
dr dr  r  r
sign indicates that the force on the bodies is towards each other.
Note: If a particle is at a height h from earth’s surface & Re be radius of earth, r = Re + h
GM e m
U 
Re  h
• It is a scalar quantity and its values is always negative.
• It’s unit is Joule or Erg.
• Gravitational potential energy of a mass at infinite distance from earth is zero, and at all the other
points it is less than zero, i.e. it is negative.
Intensity Of Gravitational Field And Gravitational Potential Due To Hollow Sphere:
(a) Hollow Sphere
(i) Let OP = r
If point P is situated outside the hollow sphere, then OP = r > R
P
GM GM
(1) Eout   (2) Vout  
r2 r P’
(ii) If point P is situated on the surface of sphere, then OP’ = r = R R
P”
GM GM
(1) Esurface   (2) Vsurface  
R2 R
(iii) If point P is inside the hollow sphere, then OP” = r < R
GM
(1) Ein = 0 (2) Vin  
R
Note: Gravitational field intensity inside a hollow sphere is zero but gravitation potential is constant
and is equal to the potential at the surface.

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(b) Solid Sphere

Let OP = r
(i) If point P is situated outside the sphere, then OP = r > R
GM GM
(1) Eout   2 (2) Vout 
r r
(ii) If point P is situated on the surface of sphere, then OP = r + R
GM GM
(1) Esurface   2 (2) Vsurface  
R R
(iii) If point P is situated inside the sphere, then OP = r < Re

GMr GM(3 R2  r 2 )
(1) Ein   (2) Vin  
R3 2 R3
Note : Vcentre = 1.5 Vsurface
SATELLITE
• Celestical bodies revolving round the gravitational field of the planet s is collate satellite.
• Satellites Are Of Two Types
Nautral satellites : As moon is a satellite of the earth.
Artifical satellites: They are launched by man such as Rohini, Aryabhatt etc.
• Let a sateelite of mass ‘m’ revolves in a circular orbit with radius ‘r’ around the earth.
The necessary centripetal force needed for circular motion is provided by the graviational force
fo the earth
V
GMe m mv2
so, 
r2 r h
P
Where Me = mass of earth Satellite
v = orbitial velocity of satellite r m
r = radius of satellite’s orbit = Re + h = orbital radius
Re = Radius of earth Me R e
h = The height of the satllite above the earth’s surface
g = Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth
Orbital Velocity Of Satellite

GM GMe gRe2
• v  
r Re  h Re  h

gRe2
• From theis expression, , it is clear that orbital velocity does not depend on the mass of
Re  h
satellite but it depends on the height of the satellite above the eath’s surface (h). Greater the height
of sateelite, smaller is the orbital velocity.
• If a sateelilte is very close to the earth surface (h << Re) then h will be negligible as compared
to R than the orbitial speed of satellite is given by,
GM e
v=  gR
R
= 7.92 km/sec. (  8 km/sec)

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Period Of Revolution
• The time taken by the satellite for completing one revolution of earth is called as period of revolution
of satellite.
• Period or Revolution of a satellite is,
2 r 2 ( Re  h)
T= 
v v
where T is the time period of a satellite at a height ‘h’
r3 r3
• T  2  2
GM e gRe2
3/2
( h  Re )3 Re h 
= 2 2
 21  
gRe g Re 
• It is evident from the above expresion that T2r3 i.e kepler’s III law is true for circular motion also.
• For a satellite revolving very close to the surafce of earth (h << Re).
Re
T  2  84.4 min
g
Therefore, the minimum time period of the satellite revolving very close to the surface of earth
is 84.4 min.
r3
• From the expression T = 2  we can say that time period of satellite depends on its orbital radius
GM e
T2  R3
As the radius increases, simultaneously time period also increase.
Energy Of Satellite
When satellite is revolving in the orbit of radius ‘r’ then
GM e m
• Potential energy of satellite : P.E = – , where r = h
r
1 GM e m
• Kinetic energy of satellite : K.E = mv 2 =
2 2r
GMe m
• Total energy of satellite = K.E. + P.E. =
2r
1
• We can say that : Total energy of satellite = (Potential energy of satellite)
2
= – Kinetic energy of satellite.
Binding Energy Of Satellite
• Binding energy is the energy given to satellite in order that the satellite escape away form its robit.
GM e m
Binding energy = – total energy = (i.e. equal to kineitc energy)
2r
GM e m
If energy equals to , is provided to the satellite, it will escape away from the graviational field
2r
of the planet.
• Unless a revolving satellite gets extra energy, it would not leave its orbit. If the kinetic energy
of a satellite happens to increase to two times, the satellite would escape.

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• If the orbital velocity of a satellite revolving close to the earth happens to increase to 2 times,
the satellite would escape, That means if orbital velocity increaeses to 41.4%, satellite would leave
the orbit.
• Total energy of satellite is always negative. When the energy of the satellite is negative, it moves
in either a cicular or an elliptical orbit.

(Potential energy)
• Binding energy = Kinetic energy = – (Total energy) = –
2

GEO-STATIONARY SATELLITES
Such satellites which are stationary with respect to an observer on earth are termed as Geostationary
satellites. They are also called Parking satelliltes.
The direction of rotation of geo-stationary saellites is from west to east, the time period of 24 hours
and its angular velocity is same as that of axial velocity of earth, revolving around its axis.
Geo-stationary satelliltes can be launched just above the equator.
The radius of orbit of Geo-stationary satellite is r = 42000 km and it sheight above the surface
of earth is h = 36000 km

Different values of satellite
(a) Angular velocity () = 7.1 × 10–5 rad/sec
Satellite r
(b) Linear velocity (v) = 3.1 km/sec
(c) Time period (T) = 24 hours
(d) Height above the earth’s surface (h) = 36000 km (approx)
At time, t the angular dispalcement of earth and Geo stationary satellite is same.
Angular momentum of satellite is conserved and it is equal to

gRe2
J = mvr = mr = mRe gr = m GM e r
r

Satellites behaves like freely falling bodies towards planet.

The Satellites revolves aroudn the earth in an orbit with earth as centre of a focus.
If a packet is released form the satellite, it will not fall on the earth but will remain revolving
in the saem orbit with the same speed as the satellite.
No graviational force of satellite is used up for provinding necessary centripetal force. Due to
gravitational force the effective value of accelertion due to gravity becomes gaff = 0, as a result
effective weight becomes waif = 0, so the man sitting in the satellite enjoys weightlessens. Man
experiences this weighhlessness condition only when weight of satellite is very less therfore
gravitational effect of satellite is negligible.
Although moon is also a satellite of the earth, but a person on moon does not feel weightlessness.
Thereason is that the moon has a large mass and exerts a graviational force on the person (and
this is the weigth of the person on the moon). On the other hand, the artifical satellite having
a smaller mass does not exert gravitational force on the space-man.

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Relation Between Velocity Of Projection
And Shape Of Orbit
Shape of the satellite’s orbit depends on its velocity.
GM e
V0 = ; orbitial velocity of the satellite’ss
Re  h
Cases:
If V < V0 ; In this case satellite will leave its circular orbit & finally fall to earth following spiral path.
If V = V0 ; In this case satellite will rotate in circular path.
If V0 < V < 2 V0 ; In this case satellite will revolve around the earth in elliptical orbit.
If V = 2 V0 ; In this case satellite will leave the graviational field of earth and escape wasy following
a parabolic path. If V > 2 V0 ; In this case the satellite will escape, following a hyperbolical path.
ESCAPE VELOCITY
Escape velocity is the minimum velocity that should be given to the body to enable it to escape
away form the graviational field of earth.
The energy given to the body to project it with the escape velocity is called the ‘Escape Energy’
or ‘Bindind energy’.
Total energy of a body is reduced to zero to enable it to escape away from the graviational field
or earth.
GMe m
The graviational potential energy of a particle at the surface of earth = Re
GM e M
 Escape Energy of Binding energy = + Re
if thrown with the velocity ve,
1 GM e m
then mve2 =
2 2
2GMe
Escape velocity for earth ve = = 11.2 km/sec
Re
LAUNCHING OF AN ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE
AROUND THE EARTH
Now-a-days, artificial satellites can be put into A v
stable orbits around the earth. This is done by
h
means of mul tistage rockets. The satellite is (5)
(1)
placed on the rocket which is launched from Re Hyperbolic
(4)
EARTH Parabolic
the earth. When the rocket reaches its maximum (2)
vertical height h, a special mechanism gives a
thrust to the satellite at poi nt A (see fig.), Circular

producing a horizontal velocity v. We know that

the orbital velocity of a satellite orbiting in a (3)

circular orbit at a height h above earth’s surface is

Elliptical
GM e
v0  and at this height the escape velocity is
Re  h

2GM e
ve  where Me is mass and Re is radius of earth.
Re  h

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 Gravitation

GMe
(1) If v  , then the satellite moving on a ‘parabolic’ path will come closer and closer to the
Re  h
earth and finally fall on the earth.

GM e
(2) If v  then the satellite will revolve around the earth in a ‘circular’ orbit of radius
Re  h
(Re + h). This is the limiting (minimum) velocity of the satellite to revolve around the earth. If
the velocity is less than this, the satellite will come closer and closer to the earth and finally fall
on the earth.

GM e 2GMe
(3) If v is greater than , but less than then the satellite will revolve in an ‘elliptical’
Re  h Re  h
orbit with centre of the earth at one focus of the orbit. In elliptical orbit, the speed of the satellite
varies. It slows down as it gets farther from earth’s surface, and speeds up again as it approaches
the earth (see figure)

Fastest

EARTH

Speeding Slowing
up down

Slowest

2GM e
(4) If v  , that is, If the horizontal velocity given to the satellite is equal to the escape velocity,,
Re  h
then the satellite moving on a ‘parabolic’ path would escape, never to return.

2GM e
(5) If v  , then the satellite moving on a ‘hyperbolic’ path would escape.
Re  h

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 Gravitation
CLASSWORK
NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITATION 6. A rocket is fired from the earth to the moon.
1. Two point masses A and B having masses in The distance between the earth and the moon
the ratio 4 : 3 are separated by a distance of is r and the mass of the earth is 81 times the
1 m. When another point mass C of mass M is mass of the moon. The gravitational force on
placed in between A and B, the force between the rocket will be zero when its distance from
1 the moon is
A and C is rd of the force between B and C.
3 a) r / 20 b) r / 15
Then the distance of C from A is
c) r / 10 d) r / 5
2 1
a) m b) m 7. Two metal spheres each of radius ‘r’ are kept
3 3
in contact with each other. If ‘d’ is the density
1 2
c) m d) m of the sphere material, the gravitational force
4 7
between those spheres is proportional to
2. Two identical solid copper spheres of radius
R are placed in contact with each other. The a) d2r6 b) d2r4
gravitational attraction between them is c) d2/r4 d) r4/d2
proportional to
8. What is the net force acting on m2 if m1 = m1 =
a) R2 b) R–2
m3 = m?
c) R4 d) R–4
3. Two particles of equal mass go round a circle of
m1
radius R under the action of their mutual
gravitational attraction. Speed of each particle
is
l
1 1 Gm
a) v  b) v 
2 R Gm 2R m2 m3
l
1 Gm 4Gm
c) v  d) v 
2 R R
4. Particles of masses 2M, Gm 2 2Gm 2
a) 2 b)
m & 3M are respectively l2 l2
at points A, B and C with AB = 1/4(BC). m is
Gm 2
much-much smaller than M and at time t = 0, c) d) zero
4l 2
they are all at rest. At subsequent times before
collision takes place 9. A satellite of the earth is revolving in a circular
a) m will remain at rest. orbit with a uniform speed v. If the
b) m will move towards 3M gravitational force suddenly disappears, the
satellite will
c) m will move towards 2M
d) m will have oscillatory motion a) Continue to move with velocity v along the
5. The earth (mass = 6 × 1024 kg) revolves round the original orbit
sun with an angular velocity of 2 × 10–7 rad/s in b) Move with a velocity v, tangentially to be
a circular orbit of radius 1.5 × 108 km. The original orbit
gravitational force exerted by the sun on the
earth, in newtons, is c) Fall down with increasing velocity
a) zero b) 18 × 1025 d) Ultimately come to rest somewhere on the
c) 36 × 1021 d) 3.6 × 1018 original orbit

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 Gravitation
10. Mass M is divided into two parts xM and 15. Two planets have radii r1 and r2 and densities d1
(1 – x)M. For a given a separation, the value of and d 2 , respectively. Then, the ratio of
x for which the gravitational attraction between acceleration due to gravity on them is
the two pieces becomes maximum is
a) r12 d1 : r22 d2 b) r1d2 : r2d1
a) 1/2 b) 3/5
c) r1d1 : r2 d2 d) r1 : r2
c) 1 d) 2
16. When the radius of earth is reduced by 1%
11. Three identical point masses, each of mass 1 kg without changing the mass, then the
lie in the x-y plane at points (0, 0), (0, 0.2m) acceleration due to gravity
and (0.2m, 0). The net gravitational force on
a) increases by 2% b) decreases by 1.5%
the mass at the origin in
c) increases by 1% d) decreases by 1%
a) 1.67  10 9 ( iˆ  ˆj ) N b) 3.34  10 10 (iˆ  ˆj ) N 17. The height of the point vertically above the
earth’s surface at which the acceleration due to
c) 1.67  10 ( i  ˆj ) N d) 3.34  10 (iˆ  ˆj ) N
9 ˆ  10 gravity becomes 1% of its value at the surface
is (R is the radius of the earth)
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY a) 8 R b) 9 R

12. If the spinning speed of the earth is increased, c) 10 R d) 20 R

then the weight of the body at the equator 18. The change in the value of g at a height h above
the surface of the earth is the same as at a depth
a) does not change b) doubles
d below the surface of earth. When both d and
c) decreases d) increases h are much smaller than the radius of earth,
then which of the following is correct?
13. If the earth were to spin faster, then
acceleration due to gravity at the poles a) d = 2h b) d = h

a) increases c) d = h / 2 d) d = 3h / 2
19. The depth at which the value of acceleration
b) decreases
due to gravity becomes 1/n times the value at
c) depends on how much fast it spins the surface is (R be the radius of the earth)

d) remains the same R R

a) b)
n n2
14. Which of the following graphs show the
variation of acceleration due to gravity g with R( n  1) Rn
c) d) (n  1)
depth d from the surface of the earth? n
20. The radii of two planets are respectively R1
and R2 and their densities are respectively  1
and  2 . The ratio of the acceleration due to
a) b)
gravity (g1 / g2) at their surfaces is

R1  2 R11
a) R  b) R2  2
2 1

c) d) 1 R22 R1R2
c)  2 R12 d) 1 2

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 Gravitation
21. A body weighs 72 N on the surface of earth. 27. A package is released from an orbiting earth
What is the gravitational force on it due to satellite by simple detaching it from the outer
earth at a height equal to half the radius of wall of the satellite. The package will
the earth from the surface?
a) go away from the earth and get lost in outer
a) 72 N b) 28 N
space
c) 16 N d) 32 N
22. The height at which the acceleration due to b) fall to the surface of the earth.
gravity decreases by 36% of its value on the
c) continue moving along with the satellite in
surface of the earth is (Radius of the earth is R.)
the same orbit and with the same velocity
R R
a) b) d) fall through a certain distance and then
6 4
R 2 move in an orbit around the earth.
c) d) R
2 3 28. The radius of the earth is 6400 km and
23. Taking radius of the earth to be 6400 km, by g = 10 m/sec2. In order that a body of 5 kg
what percentage will the acceleration due to weighs zero at he equator, the angular speed
gravity at a height of 100 km from the surface of the earth is
of the earth differ from that on the surface of
the earth? a) 1/80 radian/sec
a) about 1.5% b) about 5%
b) 1/400 radian/sec
c) about 8% d) about 3%
24. If g0, gh and gd be the acceleration due to gravity c) 1/800 radian/sec
at earth’s surface, at height h and at a depth d d) 1/1600 radian/sec
respectively, then
a) g 0  g h & g 0  g d b) g 0  g h & g 0  g d GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, GRAVITATIONAL
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY
c) g 0  g h & g 0  g d d) g 0  g h & g 0  g d
25. Imagine a new planet having the same density 29. The gravitational field intensity and the
as that of earth but it is 3 times bigger than gravitational potential at the midpoint of two
the earth in size. If the acceleration due to particles of mass m equal kept at a distance 2r is
gravity on the surface of earth is g and that on
the surface of the new planet is g’, then 2Gm 2Gm
a) 0 ,  b)  ,0
a) g'  3 g b) g' 9 g r r
g
c) g'  d) g' 27 g 2Gm 2Gm
9 c) 0, 0 d) ,
r2 r
26. Acceleration due to gravity on moon is 1/6 of
the acceleration due to gravity on earth. If the 30. Two point masses each 1 kg are placed on
ratio of densities of earth  e  and moon  m  y–axis equidistant from the origin such that the
distance of separation between them is 8 m. Find
 e  5
is     3 then radius of moon Rm  in the gravitational field of this system on x–axis
 m at a distance of 3 m from the origin.
terms of Re will be
6G 6G
5 1 a)  b) 
a) Re b) Re 25 5
18 6
6G 6G
7 1 c)  d) 
c) Re d)  Re 125 125
18 2 3

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 Gravitation
31. The change in potential energy when a body 36. A shell of mass M and radius R has a point
of mass m is raised to a height nR from earth’s mass m placed at a distance r from its centre.
surface is (R = radius of earth) The gravitational potential energy U(r) vs r
n will be
a) mgR ( n  1) b) mgR

n n2
c) mgR ( n  1) d) mgR
(n2  1)
a) b)
32. A particle of mass m is placed at the centre of
a uniform spherical shell of mass 3m and
radius R. The gravitational potential on the
surface of the shell is
Gm 3Gm
a)  b) 
R R
c) d)
4Gm 2Gm
c)  d) 
R R
33. A body of mass m rises to a height 5R from
surface of earth. If g is the acceleration due to 37. From a solid sphere of mass M and radius R,
gravity at surface of earth, the increase in a spherical portion of radius R/2 is removed,
potential energy is (R = radius of earth) as shown in the figure. Taking gravitational
potential V = 0 at r   , the potential at the
4 5 centre of the cavity thus formed is (G =
a) mgR b) mgR
5 6 Gravitational constant)
6
c) mgR d) mgR GM GM
7 a) b)
2R R
34. There are two bodies of masses 100 kg and
10000 kg separated by a distance 1 m. At what 2GM 2GM
distance from the smaller body, the intensity c) d)
3R R
of gravitational field will be zero ?

1 1 38. The gravitational potential difference between

a) m b) m the surface of a planet and point 20 m above
9 10
the surface is 2 J/kg. If the gravitational field is
1 10 uniform then the work done in carrying a 5 kg
c) m d) m
11 11 body to a height of 4 m above the surface is

35. Infinite number of masses, each of mass m, a) 2 Joule b) 20 Joule

are placed along a straight line at distances of
r, 2r, 4r, 8r, etc. from a reference point O. Then c) 40 Joule d) 10 Joule
the gravitational field intensity at point O
will be 39. Energy required to move a body of mass m
from an orbit of radius 2R to 3R is
5Gm 4Gm
a) b)
4r 2 3r 2 a) GMm/12R2 b) GMm/3R2

3Gm 2Gm c) GMm/8R d) GMm/6R

c) d)
2r 2 r2

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 Gravitation
ESCAPE VELOCITY 46. For a satellite moving in an orbit around the
Earth, the ratio of kinetic energy to potential
40. Let v1 and v2 be the escape velocities of the
satellite on the earth’s surface and space energy is
station, respectively. Then a) 2 b) 1 / 2
a) v2  v1
1
c) d) 2
b) v2  v1 2
c) v2  v1 47. A communication satellite of Earth which takes
d) a, b, c are valid, depending on the mass of 24 h to complete one circular orbit eventually
satellite has to be replaced by another satellite of double
41. The escape velocity of 10 g body from the earth mass. The new satellite also has orbital time
–1
is 11.2 km s . Ignoring the air resistance, the period of 24 h, then what is the ratio of the
escape velocity of 10 kg of the iron ball from radius of new orbit to the original orbit?
the earth is
a) 1 : 1 b) 2 : 1
a) 0.0112 km s–1 b) 0.112 km s–1
c) 11.2 km s–1 d) 0.56 km s–1 c) 2 : 1 d) 1 : 2
42. The mass of a planet is six times that of the
48. A satellite of mass m goes round the Earth
earth. The radius of the planet is twice that of
along a circular path of radius r. Let mE be the
the earth. If the escape velocity from the earth
is v, then the escape velocity from the planet is mass of the Earth and RE its radius then the
linear speed of the satellite depends on
a) v b) 2 v
a) m, mE, r b) m, RE and r
c) 3 v d) 5 v
43. A mass of 6 × 1024 kg is to be compressed in a c) mE only d) mE and r
sphere in such a way that escape velocity from 49. A satellite is revolving around the Earth with
the sphere is 3 × 108 ms–1. What should be the a kinetic energy E. The minimum additional
radius of sphere? (G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2)
kinetic energy needed to make it escape from
a) 9 mm b) 9 cm its orbit is
c) 9 m d) 9 km
44. An artificial satellite moves in a circular orbit a) 2E b) E
around the earth. Total energy of the satellite is c) E/2 d) E/ 2
given by –E. Potential energy of the satellite is
a) –2E b) 2E 50. The escape velocity for a body projected
c) 2E / 3 d) –2E / 3 vertically upwards from the surface of earth is
45. A satellite is orbiting 11 km/sec. If the body is projected at an angle
Earth at a distance r. of 45° with the vertical, escape velocity will be
Variations of its kinetic a) 11 / 2 km/sec b) 11 2 km/sec
energy, potential energy
and total energy, is c) 2 km/sec d) 11 km/sec
shown in the figure.
51. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a
Of the three curves
velocity equal to half the escape velocity from
shown in figure, identify the type of
the surface of the earth. The ball rises to a
mechanical energy they represent.
height h above the surface of the earth. If
a) 1, Potential; 2, Kinetic; 3, Total
radius of earth is R, then the ratio h / R is
b) 1, Total; 2, Kinetic; 3, Potential
c) 1, Kinetic; 2, Total; 3, Potential a) 1 / 2 b) 1 / 3
d) 1, Potential; 2, Total; 3, Kinetic c) 2 d) 3

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 Gravitation
52. A body is projected up with a velocity equal 57. Two satellites A and B go around the earth in
to 3 / 4 of the escape velocity from the surface circular orbits at heights of R A and R B
of the earth. The height it reached is (Radius respectively from the surface of the earth.
of the earth = R) Assuming earth to be a uniform sphere of
10R 9R radius Re, the ratio of the magnitudes of their
a) b) orbital velocities is
9 7
9R 10R RB RB  Re
c) d) a) b) R  R
8 3 RA A e

53. Two balls A and B are thrown vertically

upwards from the same location on the surface RB  Re  RA 
c) d)  
gR 2gR RA  Re  RB 
of the earth with velocities 2 and
3 3 58. Assuming density d of a planet to be uniform,
respectively, where R is the radius of the earth we can say that the time period of its artificial
and g is the acceleration due to gravity on the satellite is proportional to
surface of the earth. The ratio of the maximum
a) d b) d
height attained by A to that attained by B is
a) 2 b) 4 1 1
c) d)
d d
c) 8 d) 4 2
59. In a satellite if the time of revolution is T, then
54. The escape velocity of a body on the surface of kinetic energy is proportional to
earth is 11.2 km/s. If the earth’s mass increases a) T–1 b) T–2/3
to twice its present value & radius of the earth
c) T–2 d) T–1/3
becomes half, the escpe velocity would become
60. Two satellites A and B go round a planet P in
a) 5.6 km/s b) 11.2 km/s
circular orbits having radii 4R and R
c) 44.8 km/s d) 22.4 km/s respectively. If the speed of the satellite A is
3v, the speed of satellite B will be
55. A particle of mass m is kept at rest at a height
3R from the surface of earth, where R is radius a) 12v b) 6v
of earth and M is mass of earth. The minimum c) (4/3)v d) (3/2)v
speed with which it should be projected, so
61. The distances of two satellites from the
that it does not return back, is (g is acceleration surface of the earth are R and 7R. Their time
due to gravity on the surface of earth) periods of rotation are in the ratio
1/ 2 1/ 2 a) 1 : 7 b) 1 : 8
 GM   gR 
a)   b)  
 2R   4  c) 1 : 49 d) 1 : 73/2
62. A satellite of mass m revolves around the
1/ 2 1/ 2
 2g   GM  earth of radius R at a height x from its surface.
c)   d)   If g is the acceleration due to gravity on the
 R  R 
surface of the earth, the orbital speed of the
56. A body is projected with a velocity of satellite is
2 × 11.2 km s–1 from the surface of earth. The
velocity of the body when it escapes the gR
a) gx b)
gravitational pull of earth is Rx

a) 3  11.2 km s 1 b) 11.2 km s 1  gR 2 
1/ 2
gR 2
c) d)  
c) 2  11 .2 km s 1 d) 0.5  11.2 km s1 R x Rx

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 Gravitation
63. A geostationary satellite is orbiting the earth 68. The additional kinetic energy to be provided
at a height of 6R above the surface of earth R to a satellite of mass m revolving around
being the radius of earth. The time period of a planet of mass M, to transfer it from a
another satellite at a height of 2.5R from the circular orbit of radius R1 to another of radius
surface of earth, is R2(R2 > R1) is

a) 10 hour b) (6 / 2 ) hour  1 1 
a) GmM R 2  R 2 
 1 2 
c) 6 hour d) 6 2 hour
 1 1 
64. The escape velocity of a body from earth’s
b) GmM R  R 
surface is ve. The escape velocity of the same  1 2 
body from a height equal to 7R from earth’s
surface will be  1 1 
c) 2GmM R  R 
ve ve  1 2 
a) b)
2 2
1  1 1 
d) 2 GmM R  R 
ve ve  1 2 
c) d)
2 2 4
69. A satellite S is moving in an elliptical orbit
65. The velocity with which a body should be around the earth. The mass of the satellite is
projected from the surface of the earth such very small compared to the mass of the earth.
that it reaches a maximum height equal to 5 a) The acceleration of S is always directed
times radius R of the earth is (M is mass of towards the centre of the earth.
the earth)
b) The angular momentum of S about the
centre of the earth changes in direction, but
3GM 4GM
a) b) is magnitude remains constant.
5R 3R
c) The total mechanical energy of S varies
periodically with time
4GM 5GM
c) d) d) The linear momentum of S remains constant
5R 3R
in magnitude
66. The radius of a planet is twice the radius of
earth. Both have almost equal average mass- KEPLER’S LAWS
densities. If VP and VE are escape velocities of
70. A planet revolving around the Sun has
the planet and the earth, respectively, then
velocities v1 and v2 at radii r1 and r2 (r1 > r2),
a) VP = 1.5 VE b) VP = 2VE respectively. Then
c) VE = 3 VP d) VE = 1.5 VP a) v1  v2 b) v1  v2
67. What is the minimum energy required to
launch a satellite of mass m from the surface v1 r1
c) v1  v2 d) v  r
of the earth of mass M and radius R in a 2 2
circular orbit at an altitude of 2R
71. The mass of the moon is 1% of mass of the
5GmM 2GmM earth. The ratio of gravitational pull of earth
a) b) on moon to that of moon on earth is
6R 3R
a) 1 : 1 b) 1 : 10
GmM GmM
c) d) c) 1 : 100 d) 2 : 1
2R 3R

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 Gravitation
72. The earth rotates 75. A planet moves around the sun. At a given
around the sun as gi ven poi nt P, it is closest from the sun at a
shown in figure distance d1 and has a speed v1. At another
in an elliptical point Q, when it is farthesi from the sun at a
distance d2, its speed will be
orbit. At which point will velocity be
maximum? d12 v1 d 2 v1
a) At A b) At B a) 2 b) d
d2 1
c) At C d) At D
73. The earth moves d1 v1 d22 v1
c) d d)
around the sun 2 v12
in an elliptical 76. If r denotes the distance between the sun and
orbit as shown the earth, then the angular momentum of the
earth around the sun is proportional to
OA
in the figure. The ratio  x . The ratio of a) r3/2 b) r
OB
the speed of the earth at B and at A is c) r d) r2

a) x b) x 77. In an elliptical orbit under gravitational force,

in general
2
c) x d) x x a) Tangential velocity is constant
74. A planet moving around sun sweeps are A1 b) Angular velocity is constant
and 2 days, A2 in 3 days and A3 in 6 days. Then c) Radial velocity is constant
the relation between A1, A2 and A3 is d) Area velocity is constant
78. The maximum and minimum distances of a
a) 3 A1  2 A2  A3
comet from the sun are 8 × 1012 m & 1.6 × 1012 m.
b) 2 A1  3 A2  6 A3 If its velocity when nearest the sun is 60 m/s.
If its velocity in m/s when it is farthest
c) 3 A1  2 A2  6 A3
a) 12 b) 60
d) 6 A1  3 A2  2 A3 c) 112 d) 6

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 Gravitation
ASSIGNMENT
NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITATION 6. A straight rod of length L extends from
1. Two identical coins of mass 8 g are 50 cm apart x = a to x = L + a. Find the gravitational force it
on a table top. How many times larger is the exerts on a point mass m at x = 0 if the mass
weight of one coin than the gravitational 2
per unit length of the rod is   A  Bx .
attraction of the other coin for it? (Given: G =
6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2; g = 9.81 ms–2)  1 1  
a) 4.6 × 1012 b) 4.6 × 1010 a) F  GmA     BL 
14
 a a  L  
c) 4.6 × 10 d) None of these
2. Two bodies of masses 4 kg & 9 kg are separated  1 1  
by a distance of 60 cm. A 1 kg mass is placed in b) F  Gm  A    BL
  a a L 
between these two bodies. If the net force on
1 kg is zero, then its distance from 4 kg mass is  1 1  
a) 24 cm b) 30 cm c) 28 cm d) 32 cm c) F  Gm  A    BL
3. Three equal masses of 1 kg each are placed at   a a L 
the vertices of an equilateral triangle PQR and d) None of these
a mass of 2 kg is placed at the centroid O of 7. A uniform ring of mass M and radius R is placed
the triangle which is at a distance of 2 m directly above a uniform sphere of mass 8M and
from each of the vertices of the triangle. The of same radius R. The centre of the ring is at a
force, in newton, acting on the mass of 2 kg is distance of d  3R from the centre of the
a) 2 b) 2 c) 1 d) zero sphere. The gravitational attraction between the
4. Three identical bodies of mass M are located sphere & the ring is
at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side
L. They revolve under the effect of mutual GM 2 3GM 2
a) b)
gravitational force in a circular orbit, R2 2R 2
circumscribing the triangle while preserving 2GM 2 3GM 2
the equilateral triangle. Their orbit velocity is c) 2 d)
2R R2
GM 3GM 3GM GM 8. Two solid spherical planets of equal radii R
a) b) c) d)
L 2L L 3L having masses 4M and 9M have their centres
5. The figure shows a spherical hollow inside a separated by a distance 6R. A projectile of mass
solid sphere to radius R, m is sent from the planet of mass 4M towards
the surface of the hollow the heavier planet. What is the distance r of
passes through the centre the point from the lighter planet, where the
of the sphere & it touches gravitational force on the projectile is zero?
right side of the sphere. a) 1.4 R b) 1.8 R c) 1.5 R d) 2.4 R
mass of the sphere before 9. A uniform sphere
hollowing was M. With what gravitational force of mass M and
does the hollowed-out lead sphere attract a small radius R exerts a
sphere of mass m that lies at a distance d from
force F on a small
centre of lead sphere, on straight line connecting
mass m situated
the centre of the spheres and the hollow?
at a distance of 2R
    from the centre O of the sphere. A spherical
GMm  1  GMm  1 
a) 1  2
 b) 2 1  2
 portion of diameter R is cut from the sphere
d2  1  R   d   R 
 8    4 1  2d   as shown in figure. The force of attraction
  2d      
between the remaining part of the sphere and
    the mass m will be
GMm  1  GMm  1 
 a) F / 3 b) 2F / 3
c) 2 1 2
 d) 2
1 2
d   R  d   R  c) 4F / 3 d) 7F / 9
 4 1  2d    8 1  2d  
       

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 22

 Gravitation
10. The magnitudes of the gravitational field at 14. A body weighs W newton at the surface of
distances r1 and r2 from the centre of a uniform the Earth. Its weight at a height equal to half
sphere of radius R and mass M are F1 and F2 the radius of the Earth will be
respectively. Then W 2W
a) b)
2 3
F1 r1
a) F  r , if r1  R and r2  R 4W W
2 2 c) d)
9 4
15. If value of acceleration due to gravity at the
F1 r2
b) F  , if r1  R and r2  R surface of a sphere is am, then its value is am/3
2 r1 at a distance ___ from the centre is
a) r / 3 b) 3r
F1 r13
c)  , if r1  R and r2  R
F2 r23 c) 2 3r d) r / 3
16. The imaginary angular velocity of the Earth,
F1 r12 for which the effective acceleration due to
d)  , if r1  R and r2  R
F2 r22 gravity at the equator shall be zero, is equal to
(Take g = 10 m s–2 for the acceleration due to
11. The gravitational force of attraction between gravity if the Earth were at rest and radius of
a uniform sphere of Earth equal to 6400 km.)
a) 1.25 × 10–3 rad s–1 b) 2.50 × 10–3
mass M & a uniform
c) 3.75 × 10–3 rad s–1 d) 5.0 × 10–3 rad s–1
rod of length l and
17. Imagine a new planet having the same density
mass m as shown in figure is as that of Earth but it is 3 times bigger than
the Earth in size. If the acceleration due to
GMm GM gravity on the surface of Earth is g and that on
a) r( r  l) b)
r2 the surface of the new planet is g’, then
a) g’ = 3g b) g’ = g/9
c) Mmr 2 d) (r 2  l)mM
c) g’ = 9g d) g’ = 27g

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY 18. Weight of a body of mass m decreases by 1%

if it is raised to height h above the Earth’s
12. Acceleration due to gravity at Earth’s surface surface. If the body is taken to a depth h in a
–2
is g ms . Find the effective value of acceleration mine, then its weight
due to gravity at a height of 32 km from sea a) decreases by 0.5%
level (RE = 6400 km) b) decreases by 2%.
a) 0.5 g ms–2 b) 0.99 g ms–2 c) increases by 0.5%.
c) 1.01 g ms–2 d) 0.90 g ms–2 d) increases by 1%.
13. The density of a newly discovered planet is 19. The radius and mass of the Earth are increased
twice that of the Earth. The acceleration due to by 0.5%. Which of the following are true at
the surface of the Earth?
gravity at the surface of the planet is equal to
that at the surface of the Earth. If the radius of a) g decreases.
the Earth be R, radius of the planet would be b) g increases.
a) R / 4 b) R / 2 c) Escape velocity remains unchanged.
d) Potential energy remains unchanged.
c) 2 R d) 4 R

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 Gravitation
20. A body on the equator weighs three-fifth of its 26. The radius of Moon is one-fourth of the Earth
original weight. What is angular speed of the
Earth? (Radius of Earth = 6400km) and its mass is 1 times that of the Earth. If
80
a) 7.83 × 10–4 rad s–1 b) 7.83 × 10–8 rad s–1 g represents the acceleration due to gravity on
c) 7.83 × 104 rad s–1 d) 7.85 × 10–6 rad s–1 the surface of the Earth, then on the surface
21. At what altitude (h) above the Earth’s surface of the Moon, its value is
would be acceleration due to gravity be one-
fourth of its value at the Earth’s surface? g g
a) b)
a) h = R b) h = 4 R 4 5

c) h = 2 R d) h = 16 R
g g
c) d)
22. Assume that a tunnel is dug through earth 6 8
from north pole to south pole & that earth is a
non-rotating, uniform sphere of density  . 27. A body weighs W newton at the surface of
Gravitational force on a particle of mass m the Earth. Its weight at a height equal to one-
dropped into tunnel when it reaches a third the radius of the Earth is
distance r from centre of earth is
8W 9W
 3 mG r  4 mG r a) b)
a)   b)   27 16
 4   3 

2W W
 4   4 2  c) d)
c)  mG r 2 d)  m G r 3 2
 3   3 

23. Calculate angular velocity of Earth so that 28. The acceleration due to gravity becomes g ,
acceleration due to gravity at 60° latitude 16
becomes zero. (Radius of Earth = 6400 km, where g is the acceleration due to gravity on
gravitational acceleration at poles = 10 m s–2, the surface of the Earth at a height equal to
cos 60° = 0.5)
R
a) b) 3P
a) 7.8 × 10–2 rad s–1 b) 0.5 × 10–3 rad s–1 2
c) 1 × 10–3 rad s–1 d) 2.5 × 10–3 rad s–1
c) 2R d) 4R
24. Two planets of radii in the ratio 2 : 3 are made
from the material of density in the ratio of 3 : 2. 29. If gE and gM are the accelerations due to gravity
Then the ratio of acceleration due to gravity on the surfaces of the earth and the moon
(g1/g2) at the surface of the two planets is respectively and if Millikan’s oil drop
experiment could be performed on the two
a) 0.12 b) 2.25
surfaces, one will find the ratio
c) 1 d) 4.2 electronic charge on the moon
to be
25. If the Earth shrinks in its radius by 4%, mass electronic charge on the earth
remaining the same, the value of g on its surface
gM
a) decreases by about 4%. a) g b) 1
E
b) increases by about 8%.
c) decreases by about 8%. gE
c) 0 d) g
d) remains the same. M

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 24

 Gravitation
30. The ratio of radii of earth to another planet 35. If the acceleration due to gravity on the surface
is 2/3 and the ratio of their mean densities is of the Earth of radius R is g, the gain in
4/5. If an astronaut can jump to a maximum potential energy of a body of mass m raised
height of 1.5 m on the earth, with the same from the surface to a height 4R is
effort, the maximum height he can jump on
the planet is
mgR 4
a) b) mgR
a) 1 m b) 0.8 m 4 5
c) 0.5 m d) 1.25 m
c) mg R d) 2 mg R
31. How high can a man be able to jump on
surface of a planet of radius 320 km, but 36. A body attains a height equal to twice the
having density same as that of the earth if he radius of the Earth when projected from Earth
jumps 5 m on the surface of the earth? (Radius surface. The velocity of the body with which
of earth = 6400 km)
it was projected is
a) 60 m b) 80 m
c) 100 m d) 120 m 4GM 2GM
a) b)
R R
32. A research satellite of mass 200 kg circles the
3R
earth in an orbit of average radius , where 3GM
2 5 GM
c) d)
R is the radius of the earth. Assuming the 4 R R
gravitational pull on a mass 1 kg on earth’s
surface to be 10 N, the pull on the satellite 37. A body of mass m is raised from surface of the
will be (take, g = 10 ms–2) Earth to a height nR (where R is radius of
a) 880 N b) 889 N Earth). Magnitude of change in gravitational
potential energy of the body is (Take g as the
c) 890 N d) 892 N
acceleration due to gravity on surface of Earth).
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, GRAVITATIONAL
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY n  n  1
a)   mgR b) mgR
 n 1 n
33. Mars has a diameter of approximately 0.5 of
that of Earth, and mass of 0.1 of that of Earth.
The surface gravitational field strength on mgR mgR
c) d)
Mars as compared to that on Earth is greater n  1 n
by a factor of
a) 0.1 b) 0.2 38. With what velocity should a particle be
projected so that its height becomes equal to
c) 2.0 d) 0.4
R/4, where R is the radius of Earth?
34. A projectile of mass m is thrown vertically up
with an initial velocity v from the surface of
2GM 8GM
Earth (mass of Earth = M). If it comes to rest at a) b)
5R R
a height h, the change in its potential energy is
a) (GMmh) / R(R + h) b) (GMmh2) / R(R + h)2
4GM 2GM
c) (GMmhR) / R(R + h) d) (GMm) / hR(R + h) c) d)
R R

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 Gravitation
39. Two bodies of masses m1 and m2 are initially 43. Three uniform spheres, with masses
at rest at infinite distance apart. They are then mA = 350 kg, mB = 2000 kg & mC = 500 kg, have
allowed to move towards each other under (x, y) coordinates (0, 0) cm, (–80, 0) cm, and
mutual gravitational attraction. Their relative (40, 0) cm, respectively. The gravitational
velocity of approach at a separation r between potential energy, U, of the system & change in
them is its value in terms of increase or decrease, if the
sphere of mass mB is removed, may be given as
1/ 2 1/ 2
2G m1  m2    2G m1  m2   a) U = –1.92 × 10 –4 J and its value shall
a)   b)  
 r  r decrease if the sphere B is removed.
b) U = –1.92 × 10 –4 J and its value shall
1/ 2
 r  2G
1/ 2 increase if the sphere B is removed.
c)   d)  m1m2 
 2Gm1 m2    r  c) U = –1.43 × 10 –4 J and its value shall
decrease if mB is removed.
40. A wire of length l and mass m is bent in the d) U = –1.43 × 10 –4 J and its value shall
form of a semicircle. The gravitational field increase if mB is removed.
intensity at the centre of semicircle is
ESCAPE VELOCITY
Gm
a) along x-axis 44. The escape velocity of a body on the surface of
l
Earth is 11.2 km s–1. If the Earth’s mass increases
to twice its present value & radius of the Earth
Gm
b) along y-axis becomes one-eighth escape velocity becomes
l
a) 5.6 km s–1 b) 11.2 km s–1
2Gm c) 44.8 km s–1 d) 40.8 km s–1
c) along y-axis
l2
45. The escape velocity for a projectile at Earth’s
2Gm surface is ve. A body is projected from Earth’s
d) along x-axis surface with velocity 4ve. The velocity of the
l2
body when it is at infinite distance from the
41. Two solid spherical planets of equal radii R centre of the Earth is
having masses 4M and 9M their centre are a) ve b) 2ve
separated by a distance 6R. A projectile of mass
m is sent from planet of mass 4M towards c) 2 ve d) 15ve
heavier planet. What is the distance r of the point
from lighter planet where the gravitational force 46. A body is projected vertically upward from
on the projectile is zero? the surface of the Earth with a velocity equal
to half the escape velocity. If R is the radius
a) (1.4)R b) (1.8)R of the Earth, the maximum height attained by
c) (1.5)R d) (2.4)R the body is
a) R / 6 b) R / 3
42. A particle of mass 10 g is kept on the surface
of a uniform sphere of mass 100 kg and radius c) 2R / 3 d) R
10 cm. Find work done against gravitational 47. A particle is thrown with escape velocity v
e
force between them to take the particle away from the surface of Earth. Calculate its velocity
from the sphere. (G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2kg–2) at height 3R
a) 6.67 × 10–9 J b) 6.67 × 10–10 J a)  9.25 km s–1 b)  5.6 km s–1
c) 3.33 × 10–10 J d) 13.34 × 10–10 J c)  11.2 km s–1 d)  4.3 km s–1

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 26

 Gravitation
48. What is the escape velocity for a body on the 53. An artificial satellite is moving in a circular
surface of a planet on which the acceleration orbit around the Earth with a speed equal to
due to gravity is (3.1)2 m s–2 and whose radius half the magnitude of escape velocity from the
is 8100 km? Earth. Then, the height of the satellite above
the Earth surface is
2.79 27.9
a) km s1 b) km s 1 a) 5800 km b) 6000 km
5 5

c) 6400 km d) 7500 km
c) 27.9 km s–1 d) 27.9 5 km s–1
54. Two satellites A and B go round a planet P in
49. The Earth is assumed to be a sphere of radius circular orbits having radius 4R and R,
R. A platform is arranged at a height R from respectively. If the speed of satellite A is 6v,
the surface of the Earth. The escape velocity then the speed of satellite B is
of a body from the platform is fv, where v is
its escape velocity form the surface of the a) 3v b) 12v
Earth. The value of f is
c) 9 d) None of these
a) 1 / 2 b) 2
55. A planet in a distant solar system is 10 times
c) 1 / 2 d) 1 / 3 more massive than Earth & its radius is 10 times
smaller. Given that escape velocity from Earth
50. A body is projected vertically from the surface is 11 km s–1, the escape velocity from the surface
of Earth with a velocity equal to one third of of the planet would be
escape velocity. The maximum height reached
by the body is a) 0.11 km s–1 b) 1.1 km s–1

a) R b) R / 2 c) 11 km s–1 d) 110 km s–1

c) R / 8 d) R / 4 56. A satellite in a circular orbit of radius R has a

period of 4 h. Another satellite with orbital
51. The escape velocity of a body from the Earth is radius 3R around the same planet will have a
ve. If the radius of the Earth contracts to (1/4)th period (in h)
of its value, keeping the mass of the Earth
constant, the escape velocity is a) 4 27 b) 4 8

a) unaltered b) halved c) 4 d) 16

c) doubled d) tripled 57. A satellite is orbiting around the Earth with

total energy E. What will happen if the
52. If we consider the mass of black hole as the satellite’s kinetic energy is made 2E?
mass of Earth (ME), then the radius of black
hole would be a) period of revolution is doubled.

2GM E 2GM E b) radius of orbit is halved.

a) b)
c2 3c 2
c) radius of orbit is doubled.

GM E 2GM E d) satellite escapes away.

c) d)
3c 2 c

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 27

 Gravitation
58. Near the Earth’s surface time period of a 63. The orbital velocity of an artificial satellite in
satellite is 1.4 h. Find its time period if it is at a circular orbit just above the Earth’s surface is
the distance 4R from the centre of Earth. v0. The orbital velocity of satellite orbiting at
an altitude of half of radius is
 1 
a) 32 h b)  h 3 2
8 2 a) v0 b) v0
2 3
c) 8 2 h d) 16 h 2 3
c) v0 d) v0
59. A geostationary satellite is orbiting the Earth 3 2
at a height of 6R from the Earth’s surface (R is 64. A body of mass m revolving in a circular orbit
the Earth’s radius). What is the period of of radius r of around the Earth of mass ME has
rotation of another satellite at a height of 12R magnitude of total energy E. Then, its angular
from the Earth surface? momentum is

a) 48 2 b) 10 h a) 2Emr 2 b) 2Emr2
c) 2 Emr d) 2Emr
5 5
c) h d) None of these 65. Ratio of radii of planets P1 and P2 is X. The ratio
3
of acceleration due to gravity on them is Y. Ratio
60. A spacecraft is launched in a circular orbit very of escape velocities from them is
close to Earth. What additional velocity should
be given to the spacecraft so that it might escape X2
a) XY b)
the Earth’s gravitational pull (Given: Radius Y
of the Earth is 6400 km; g = 9.8 m s–2). c) d)
XY XY 2
a) 11.2 km s–1 b) 3.28 km s–1 66. A satellite is orbiting Earth in circular orbit
of radius r. Its
c) 7.8 km s–1 d) 22.4 km s–1
a) kinetic energy  (1 / r )
61. What is the minimum energy required to
launch a satellite of mass m from the surface b) linear momentum  r
of a planet of mass M and radius R in a circular c) angular momentum  (1 / r )
orbit at an altitude of 2R?
d) frequency  r 7 / 8
2GmM GmM 67. Two particles are moving towards each other
a) b)
3R 2R due to their mutual gravitational pull.
Considering one particle’s equilibrium, it will
GmM 5GmM be in
c) d)
3R 6R a) stable equilibrium b) unstable equilibrium
62. A satellite with kinetic energy ER is revolving c) neutral equilibrium d) not in equilibrium
around the Earth in a circular orbit. The
68. A satellite is revolving around Earth in a
additional kinetic energy which should be circular orbit. Which of the following
given to the satellite so that may just escape statements is INCORRECT
into the outer space is
a) Its angular momentum is constant.
E b) Its mechanical energy is constant.
a) R b) ER
2 c) Its linear momentum is constant.
d) Centripetal force for satellite to orbit around
c) 2ER d) 3ER earth is provided by the attraction of Earth.

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 Gravitation
69. The gravitational force on a mass m kept in a 74. A satellite is launched into a circular orbit of
uniform shell is radius R around earth while a second satellite
a) zero b)  m is launched into an orbit of radius 1.02R. The
c)  1 / m d) None of these percentage difference in the time period is
70. The masses and the radii of earth and moon are a) 0.7% b) 1.0%
M1, R1 & M2, R2 respectively. Their centres are at
distance d apart. The minimum speed with c) 1.5% d) 3.0%
which a particle of mass m should be projected
from a point midway between the two centres 75. The escape velocity for a planet is ve. A particle
so as to escape to infinity is is projected from its surface with a speed v. For
this particle to move as a satellite around planet,
2G( M1  M 2 )
a) b) 2G( M1  M 2 )d ve
d ve
a)  v  ve b)  v  ve
2 2
G( M1  M2 )
c) G( M 1  M 2 )d d) 2
d ve v
c) ve  v  2 v e d) v e
71. A projectile is fired vertically upward from the 2 2
surface of earth with a velocity of kve, where ve
is the escape velocity and k < 1. neglecting air 76. A satellite is in a circular orbit very close to
resistance, the maximum height to which it will surface of a planet. At some point it is given an
rise, measured from the centre of the earth, is impulse along its direction of motion, causing
its velocity to increase n times. It now goes into
(R = radius of earth)
an elliptical orbit, with planet at the centre of
R R ellipse. Maximum possible value of n for this
a) b) to occur is
1  k2 k2
a) 2 b) 2
1 k 2 k2
c) d)
R R c) d) 1 /( 2  1)
2 1
72. There are two planets. The ratio of radii of
the two planets is K, but ratio of acceleration 77. A body is released from a point distance r from
due to gravity of both planets is g. What will the centre of earth. If R is the radius of the earth
and r > R, then the velocity of the body at the
be the ratio of their escape velocity?
time of striking the earth will be
a) (Kg)1/2 b) (Kg)–1/2
c) (Kg)2 d) (Kg)–2 a) gR b) 2 gR
73. Two stars each of mass m and radius R
approach each other to collide head-on. 2 gRr 2 gR(r  R)
Initially the stars are at a distance r (>>R). c) d)
rR r
Assuming their speeds to be negligible at this
distance of separation, the speed with which 78. If the escape velocity of a planet is 3 times
the stars collide is that of the earth and its radius is 4 times that
of the earth, then the mass of the planet is
 1 1  1 1 (Mass of the earth = 6 × 1024 kg)
a) Gm   b) Gm  
R r  2R r 
a) 1.62 × 1022 kg b) 0.72 × 1022 kg
1 1 1 1
c) Gm   d) Gm   c) 2.16 × 1026 kg d) 1.22 × 1022 kg
 R r  R r
2

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 29

 Gravitation
KEPLER’S LAWS 84. A small planet is revolving around a very
massive star in a circular orbit of radius R with
79. The Earth revolves around Sun in 1 year. If a period of revolution T. If gravitational force
distance between them becomes double, new
between planet and the star were proportional
time period of revolution of Earth is
to R–5/2, then T would be proportional to
a) 4 2 year b) 2 2 year a) R3/2 b) R3/5
c) 4 year d) 8 year c) R7/2 d) R1/4
80. A body of mass m is orbiting the Earth at a 85. Suppose the gravitational force varies
radius r from the centre of Earth. Another inversely as the nth power of distance. Then,
body of mass 2m is orbiting at a distance 2r.
the time period of a planet in a circular orbit
What is the ratio of their time period?
of radius R around the Sun is proportional to
a) 1 : 2 b) 1 : 2
 n2 
 
2/3
c) 1 : 2 d) 1 : 2 2 a) Rn
b)R 2 
81. The mean distance of Mars from Sun is 1.5  n1   n1 
   
times that of Earth from Sun. What is the c) R  2  d) R 2 
approximate time (in year) required by Mars
86. The period of revolution of planet A around
to make 1 revolution about the Sun?
the Sun is 8 times that of B. The distance of A
a) 2.35 year b) 1.85 year from the Sun is how many times greater than
c) 3.65 year d) 2.75 year that of B from the Sun?
82. Maximum & minimum distances of a comet a) 2 b) 3
from Sun are 8 × 10 12 m & 1.6 × 10 12 m
c) 4 d) 5
respectively. When it is nearest to the Sun, if
its velocity is 60 m/s, then what will be its 87. A system of binary stars of masses MA and MB
velocity (in ms–1) when it is farthest? are moving in circular orbits of radii RA and
RB respectively. If TA and TB are the time
a) 12 b) 60
periods of masses MA and MB respectively,
c) 112 d) 6 then
83. If the Earth is one-fourth of its present distance 1/ 2
from the Sun, the duration of the year will be TA  R A 
a)  
changed to TB  RB 
a) half of the present year b) TA  TB (if RA > RB)
b) one-fourth of the present year
c) TA  TB (if MA > MB)
c) one-eighth of the present year
d) TA = TB
d) seven-eighth of the present year

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 Gravitation
PREVIOUS YEAR NEET MCQS
NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITATION ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
1. Two spherical bodies of mass M and 5M and 7. The acceleration due to gravity at a height
radii R and 2R are released in free space with 1 km above the earth is the same as at a depth
initial separation between their centres equal d below the surface of earth. Then (2017)
to 12R. If they attract each other due to
gravitational force only, then the distance
3
a) d = 1 km b) d  km
covered by the smaller body before collision 2
is (2015 Cancelled) 1
a) 7.5R b) 1.5R c) d = 2 km d) d  km
2
c) 2.5R d) 4.5R
2. Two spheres of masses m and M are situated 8. Starting from the centre of the earth having
in air and the gravitational force between radius R, the variation of g(acceleration due
them is F. The space around the masses is now to gravity) is shown by (II-2016)
filled with a liquid of specific gravity 3. The
gravitational force will now be (2003)
a) 3 F b) F a) b)
c) F/3 d) F/9
3. Gravitational force is required for (2000)
a) stirring of liquid b) convection
c) conduction d) radiation
4. Two particles of equal mass go around a circle c) d)
of radius R under the action of their mutual
gravitational attraction. The speed v of each
particle is (1995) 9. Dependence of intensity of gravitational field
1 Gm 4Gm (E) of earth with distance (r) from centre of
a) b) earth is correctly represented by (2014)
2 R R

1 1 Gm
c) d) a) b)
2R Gm R
5. The earth (mass = 6 × 10 24 kg) revolves
around the sun with an angular velocity of
2 × 10–7 rad/s in a circular orbit of radius
1.5 × 108 km. The force exerted by the sun on c) d)
the earth, in newton, is (1995)
a) 36 × 1021 b) 27 × 1039
c) zero d) 18 × 1025 10. Infinite number of bodies, each of mass 2 kg
6. If the gravitational force between two objects are situated on x-axis at distances 1 m, 2 m,
were proportional to 1/R (and not as 1/R2 ), 4 m, 8 m, ...., respectively, from the origin. The
where R is the distance between them, then a resulting gravitational potential due to this
particle in a circular path (under such a force) system at the origin will be (2013)
would have its orbital speed v, proportional to
4
a) R (1994, 1989) a)  G b) –4G
0
b) R (independent of R) 3
c) 1/R2 8
d) 1/R c) –G d)  G
3
VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 31
 Gravitation
11. The height at which the weight of a body 15. The density of a newly discovered planet is
th twice that of earth. The acceleration due to
 1 
becomes   , its weight on the surface of gravity at the surface of the planet is equal to
 16 
that at the surface of the earth. If the radius of
earth (radius R), is (2012)
the earth is R, the radius of the planet would be
a) 5R b) 15R
a) 2R b) 4R (2004)
c) 3R d) 4R
1 1
12. A spherical planet has a mass Mp and diameter c) R d) R
Dp. A particle of mass m falling freely near 4 2
the surface of this planet will experience an
16. The acceleration due to gravity on the planet
acceleration due to gravity, equal to (2012)
A is 9 times the acceleration due to gravity on
4GM p GM p m planet B. A man jumps to a height of 2 m on
a) b) the surface of A. What is the height of jump
Dp2 D 2p
by the same person on the planet B? (2003)

GM p 4GM p m a) (2 / 9) m b) 18 m
c) d)
Dp2 D p2 c) 6 m d) (2 / 3) m
13. The dependence of acceleration due to gravity 17. A body of weight 72 N moves from the surface
g on the distance r from the centre of the earth, of earth at a height half of the radius of earth,
assumed to be a sphere of radius R of uniform then gravitational force exerted on it will be
density is as shown in figures below
a) 36 N b) 32 N (2000)

c) 144 N d) 50 N
i) ii)
18. What will be the formula of mass of the earth
in terms of g, R and G? (1996)

R R2
a) G b) g
g G
iii) iv)
2 R g
c) g d) G .
G R
The correct figure is (Mains 2010) 19. The acceleration due to gravity g and mean
a) (iv) b) (i) density of the earth  are related by which
of the following relations? (where G is the
c) (ii) d) (iii)
gravitational constant and R is the radius of
14. Imagine a new planet having the same density the earth.) (1995)
as that of earth but it is 3 times bigger than
the earth in size. If the acceleration due to 3g 3g
a)   b)  
gravity on the surface of earth is g and that on 4 GR 4 GR3
the surface of the new planet is g’, then (2005)
a) g’ = g/9 b) g’ = 279 4 gR 2 4 gR 3
c)   d)   .
c) g’ = 9g d) g’ = 3g. 3G 3G

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 Gravitation
20. The radius of earth is about 6400 km and that 25. A body of mass ‘ m’ is taken from the earth’s
of mars is 3200 km. The mass of the earth is surface to the height equal to twice the radius
about 10 times mass of mars. An object weighs (R) of the earth. The change in potential
200 N on the surface of earth. Its weigth on energy of body will be (2013)
the surface of mars will be (1994)
1
a) 20 N b) 8 N a) 3mgR b) mgR
3
c) 80 N d) 40 N
21. A satellite in force free space sweeps 2
c) mg2R d) mgR
stationary interplanetary dust at a rate of 3
dM/dt =  v, where M is mass and v is the
speed of satellite and  is a constant. The 26. Which one of the following plots represents
the variation of gravitational field on a particle
acceleration of satellite is (1994)
with distance r due to a thin spherical shell of
 v 2 radius R? (r is measured from the centre of
a) b)  v 2 the spherical shell) (Mains 2012)
2M

 2v 2  v 2
c) d) a) b)
M M
22. A body weighs 200 N on the surface of the
earth. How much will it weigh half way down
to the centre of the earth ? (2019)
a) 100 N b) 150 N c) d)
c) 200 N d) 250 N
23. If the mass of the sun were ten times smaller
27. A particle of mass M is situated at the centre of
and the universal gravitational constant were
a spherical shell of same mass and radius a.
ten times larger in magnitude, which of the
The magnitude of the gravitational potential
following is not correct ?
at a point situated at a/2 distance from the
a) Raindrops will fall faster. centre, will be (Mains 2011, 2010)
b) Walking on the ground would become more
difficult. GM 2GM
a) b)
a a
c) Time period of a simple pendulum on the
Earth would decrease.
3GM 4GM
d) g on the Earth will not change c) d)
a a
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, GRAVITATIONAL 28. A man of 50 kg mass is standing in a gravity
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY free space at a height of 10 m above the floor.
24. At what height from the surface of earth the He throws a stone of 0.5 kg mass downwards
gravitation potential and the value of g are with a speed 2 m/s. When the stone reaches
–5.4 × 107 J kg–1 and 6.0 m s–2 respectively? Take the floor, the distance of the man above the
the radius of earth as 6400 km. (I-2016) floor will be (2010)

a) 1400 km b) 2000 km a) 9.9 m b) 10.1 m

c) 2600 km d) 1600 km c) 10 m d) 20 m

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 33

 Gravitation
29. A body of mass m is placed on earth’s surface 34. A black hole is an object whose gravitational
which is taken from earth surface to a height field is so strong that even light cannot escape
of h = 3R, then change in gravitational from it. To what approximate radius would
potential energy is (2003) earth (mass = 5.98 × 10 24 kg) have to be
compressed to be a black hole? (2014)
mgR 2
a) b) mgR
4 3 a) 10–9 m b) 10–6 m

3 mgR c) 10–2 m d) 100 m

c) mgR d)
4 2 35. The radius of a planet is twice the radius of earth.
30. The work done to raise a mass m from the Both have almost equal average mass-densities.
surface of the earth to a heigh h, which is equal VP & VE are escape velocities of the planet and
to the radius of the earth, is (2019) the earth, respectively, then (Karnataka 2013)

3 a) VP = 1.5 VE b) VP = 2 VE
a) mgR b) mgR
2 c) VE = 3 VP d) VE = 1.5 VP
1 36. A particle of mass ‘m’ is kept at rest
c) 2mgR d) mgR
2 at a height 3R from the surface of earth, where
‘R’ is radius of earth and ‘M’ is mass of earth.
ESCAPE VELOCITY The minimum speed with which it should be
31. A satellite of mass m is orbiting the earth (of projected, so that it does not return back, is
radius R) at a height h from its surface. The (g is acceleration due to gravity on the surface
of earth) (Karnataka 2013)
total energy of the satellite in terms of g0, the
value of acceleration due to gravity at the 1/ 2 1/ 2
 GM   gR 
earth’s surface, is (II-2016) a)   b)  
 2R   4 
mg 0 R 2 mg 0 R 2
a) b)  1/ 2 1/ 2
2 R  h  2 R  h   2g 
c)  
 GM 
d)  
 R   R 
2 mg 0 R 2 2mg 0 R 2 37. A geostationary satellite is orbiting the earth
c) d) 
Rh Rh at a height of 5R above the surface of the earth,
32. The ratio of escape velocity at earth (ve) to the R being the radius of the earth. The time
period of another satellite in hours at a height
escape velocity at a planet (vp) whose radius
of 2R from the surface of the earth is (2012)
and mean density are twice as that of earth is
a) 5 b) 10
a) 1 : 4 b) 1 : 2 (I-2016)
6
c) 1 : 2 d) 1 : 2 2 c) 6 2 d)
2
33. A remote-sensing satellite of earth revolves
38. If ve is escape velocity and vo is orbital velocity
in a circular orbit at a height of 0.25 × 106 m
of a satellite for orbit close to the earth’s
above the surface of earth. If earth’s radius is surface, then these are related by (Mains 2012)
6.38 × 106 m & g = 9.8 m–2, then the orbital speed
of the satellite is (2015) a) 0  2e b) vo = ve
–1 –1
a) 9.13 km s b) 6.67 km s
c) 7.76 km s–1 d) 8.56 km s–1 c)  e  2 o d) e  2o

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 34

 Gravitation
39. A planet moving along an elliptical orbit is 43. Two satellites of earth, S1 and S2 are moving
closest to the sun at a distance r1 and farthest in the same orbit. The mass of S1 is four times
away at a distance of r2. If v1 and v2 are the the mass of S2. Which one of the following
linear velocities at these points respectively, statements is true? (2007)
 a) The potential energies of earth and satellite
then the ratio 1 is (2011) in the two cases are equal.
2
b) S1 and S2 are moving with the same speed.
a) r1 / r2 2 b) r2 / r1 c) The kinetic energies of the two satellites are
equal.
c) r2 / r1  2
d) r1 / r2 d) The time period of S1 is four times that of S2.
44. The earth is assumed to be a sphere of radius
40. A particle of mass m is thrown upwards from R. A platform is arranged at a height R from
the surface of the earth, with a velocity u. The the surface of the earth. The escape velocity of
mass and the radius of the earth are, a body from this platform is fv, where v is its
respectively, M & R. G is gravitational escape velocity from the surface of the Earth.
constant and g is acceleration due to gravity The value of f is (2006)
on the surface of the earth. The minimum a) 1/2 b) 2
value of u so that the particle does not return
c) 1/ 2 d) 1/3
back to earth, is (Mains 2011)
45. For a satellite moving in an orbit around the
earth, the ratio of kinetic energy to potential
2GM 2GM energy is (2005)
a) 2
b)
R R
a) 1/2 b) 1/ 2

2 gM c) 2 d) 2
c) d) 2gR 2
R2 46. With what velocity should a particle be
projected so that its height becomes equal to
41. The radii of circular orbits of two satellites A radius of earth? (2001)
and B of the earth, are 4R and R, respectively. If 1/ 2
1/ 2
the speed of satellite A is 3V, then the speed of  GM   8GM 
a)   b)  
satellite B will be (2010)  R   R 
1/ 2 1/ 2
3V  2GM   4GM 
a) b) 6V c)   d)  
4  R   R 
47. For a planet having mass equal to mass of
3V the earth but radius is one fourth of radius of
c) 12V d)
2 the earth. Then escape velocity for this planet
will be (2000)
42. The additional kinetic energy to be provided a) 11.2 km/sec b) 22.4 km/sec
to a satellite of mass m revolving around c) 5.6 km/sec d) 44.8 km/sec
a planet of mass M, to transfer it from a 48. The escape velocity of a sphere of mass m is
circular orbit of radius R1 to another of radius given by (G = Universal gravitational constant;
R2(R2 > R1) is (Mains 2010) Me = Mass of the earth and Re = Radius of the
earth) (1999)
  1 1 
a) GmM  1  1  b) GmM    2GM e m 2GM e
 R 2 R2  R R  a) b)
 1 2   1 2 
Re Re
GM e 2GM e  Re
1 1  1 1 1  c) d)
c) 2GmM    d) GmM    Re Re
 R1 R2  2  R1 R2 

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 35

 Gravitation
49. The escape velocity of a body on the surface 55. For a satellite escape velocity is 11 km/s. If the
of the earth is 11.2 km/s. If the earth’s mass satellite is launched at an angle of 60° with
increases to twice its present value and radius the vertical, then escape velocity will be (1989)
of the earth becomes half, the escape velocity
becomes (1997) a) 11 km/s b) 11 3 km/s
a) 22.4 km/s b) 44.8 km/s
11
c) 5.6 km/s d) 11.2 km/s c) km/s d) 33 km/s
50. A ball is dropped from a spacecraft revolving
3
around the earth at a height of 120 km. What
KEPLER’S LAWS
will happen to the ball? (1996)
a) it will fall down to the earth gradually 56. Two astronauts are floating in gravitational
b) it will go very far in the space free space after having lost contact with their
c) it will continue to move with the same speed spaceship. The two will (2017)
along the original orbit of spacecraft a) move towards each other
d) it wi ll move with the same speed,
b) move away from each other
tangentially to the spacecraft
51. Escape velocity from earth is 11.2 km/s. If a c) will become stationary
body is to be projected in a direction making d) keep floating at same distance between them
an angle 45° to the vertical, then the escape
velocity is (1993) 57. A satellite S is moving in an elliptical orbit
around the earth. The mass of the satellite is
a) 11.2 × 2 km/s b) 11.2 km/s
very small compared to the mass of the earth.
c) 11.2/ 2 km/s d) 11.2 2 km/s Then, (2015)
52. The mean radius of earth is R, its angular a) the linear momentum of S remains constant
speed on its own axis is  and the acceleration in magnitude.
due to gravity at earth’s surface is g. What will b) the acceleration of S is always directed
be the radius of the orbit of a geostationary towards the centre of the earth.
satellite? (1992)
c) the angular momentum of S about the centre
 2
a) R g /  
2 1/ 3

b) Rg /  
2 1/ 3 of the earth changes in direction, but its
magnitude remains constant.

c) R 2 2 / g 
1/ 3

d) R 2 g /  
1/ 3
d) the total mechanical energy of S
variesperiodically with time.
53. The satellite of mass m is orbiting around the
earth in a circular orbit with a velocity v. What 58. Kepler’s third law states that square of period
will be its total energy? (1991) of revolution (T) of a planet around the sun,
2 2 is proportional to third power of average
a) (3/4)mv b) (1/2)mv
distance r between sun and planet i.e. T2 = Kr3
c) mv2 d) –(1/2)mv2 here K is constant. If the masses of sun and
54. A planet is moving in an elliptical orbit around planet are M and m respectively then as per
the sun. If T, V, E and L stand respectively for Newton’s law of gravitation force of attraction
its kinetic energy, gravitational potential GMm
energy, total energy and magnitude of angular between them is F  , here G is
momentum about the centre of force, which of r2
gravitational constant. The relation between
the following is correct ?
G and K is described as (2015 Cancelled)
a) T is conserved (1990)
b) V is always positive 1
a) K = G b) K 
c) E is always negative G
d) L is conserved but direction of vector L
c) GK  4 2 d) GMK  4 2
changes continuously.

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 Gravitation
59. The figure shows elliptical orbit of a planet 62. A satellite A of mass m is at a distance of r
m about the sun S. from the surface of the earth. Another satellite
The shaded area B of mass 2m is at a distance of 2r from the
earth’s centre. Their time periods are in the
SCD is twice the
ratio of (1993)
shaded area SAB. a) 1 : 2 b) 1 : 16
If t1 is the time c) 1 : 32 d) 1 : 2 2
for the planet to 63. The time period of a geostationary satellite is
move from C to D and t2 is the time to move 24 h, at a height 6 RE ( RE is radius of earth)
from A to B then (2009) from surface of earth. The time period of
a) t1 = 4t2 b) t1 = 2t2 another satellite whose height is 2.5 RE from
c) t = t d) t > t surface will be, (2019)
1 2 1 2

60. The period of revolution of planet A around a) 6 2 h b) 12 2 h

the sun is 8 times that of B. The distance of A 24 12
from the sun is how many times greater than c) h d) h
2. 5 2. 5
that of B from the sun? (1997)
64. The kinetic energies
a) 4 b) 5 of a planet in an
.B
c) 2 d) 3 elliptical orbit about A. .S .C
61. The distance of two planets from the sun are the Sun, at positions .
1013 m and 1012 m respectively. The ratio of A , B and C are KA, KB and KC, respectively. AC
time periods of the planets is (1994, 1988) is the major axis and SB is perpendicular to
AC at the position of the sun S as shown in
a) 10 b) 10 10 the figure. Then (2018)
a) KA < KB < KC b) KA > KB > KC
c) 10 d) 1 / 10 c) KB < KA < KC d) KB > KA > KC

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 Gravitation
PREVIOUS YEAR AIIMS MCQS
NEWTON’S LAW OF GRAVITATION 8. A body weighed 250 N on the surface assuming
the earth to be a sphere of uniform mass
1. Gravitational mass is proportional to
density, how much would it weigh half way
gravitational (1998)
down to the centre of the earth? (1995, 2001)
a) intensity b) force a) 195 N b) 240 N
c) field d) all of these c) 125 N d) 210 N
2. The force of gravitation is (2002, 2007) 9. Suppose the gravitational force varies inversely
a) repulsive as the nth power of distance. Then the time
period of a planet in circular orbit of radius R
b) conservative around the sun will be proportional to (2008)
c) electrostatic  n 1   n1 
   
d) non conservative a) R 2  b) R 2 

 n2 
 
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY c) R n d) R  2 
3. If the radius of earth shrinks by one percent and 10. Find out correct relation for the dependance
its mass remaining the same, then acceleration of change in acceleration due to gravity on the
due to gravity on the earth’s surface will (1994) angle at the latitude, due to rotation of earth.

a) remain constant b) decrease a) dg  cos  b) dg  cos 2  (2012)

c) increase d) either ‘b’ or ‘c’. 1
c) dg  cos 3 / 2  d) dg 
4. At sea level, value of g is minimum at (1997) cos
11. What will be the effect on the weight of a body
a) the poles
placed on the surface of earth, if earth
b) the equator suddenly stops rotating? (2014)
c) 45° south latitude a) no effect
d) 45° north longitude b) weight will increase
5. If the mass of a body on the earth surface is M, c) weight will decrease
then its mass on the moon surface, is (1997) d) weight will become zero
a) 6M b) 2M 12. Taking the radius of the earth to be 6400 km,
by what percentage will the acceleration due
c) M d) M/6
to gravity at a height of 100 km from the
6. The value of acceleration due to gravity g, at surfacce of the earth differ from that on the
earth’s surface is 10 m/s2. Its value at the centre surface of the earth ?
of the earth which is assumed to be sphere of a) about 1.5% b) about 5%
radius R and uniform mass density, is (1997)
c) about 8% d) about 3%
a) 2.5R m/s2 b) 5R m/s2
c) 10R m/s2 d) 0 GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, GRAVITATIONAL
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY
7. If a person with a spring balance and a body
13. Knowing that mass of moon is M/81 where M
hanging from it goes up and up in an aeroplane,
is the mass of earth, find the distance of the
then the reading of the weight of the body as
point from the moon, where gravitational
indicated by the spring balance, will (1998)
field due to earth and moon cancel each other.
a) first increase and then decrease Given that distance between earth and moon
b) go on decreasing is 60R, where R is the radius of earth. (2000)
c) go on increasing a) 2 R b) 4 R
d) remain the same c) 6 R d) 8 R

VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 38

 Gravitation
14. Condition for a uniform spherical mass M of 19. A satellite is revolving around the earth with
radius r to be a black hole is [G = gravitational a kinetic energy E. The minimum addition of
constant and g = acceleration due to gravity] kinetic energy needed to make it escape from
its orbit is (2018)
1/ 2 1/ 2
 2GM   2 gM 
a)   c b)    c (2005) a) 2E b) E
 r   r 

1/ 2 1/ 2 c) E/2 d) E
 2GM   gM 
c)   c d)   c
 r   r  20. A satellite is moving with a constant speed v
in a circular orbit about the earth. An object
15. A wire of length l and mass
of mass m is ejected from the satellite such
m is bent in the form of a that it just escapes from the gravitational pull
semicircle. The gravitational of the earth. At the time of its ejection, the
kinetic energy of the object is (2018)
field intensity at centre of
semicircle is (2009) 1
a) mv 2 b) mv 2
Gm 2
a) along x–axis
l
1 2
Gm c) mv 2 d) mv 2
b) along y–axis 3 3
l
2Gm ESCAPE VELOCITY
c) along y–axis
l2
21. There is no atmosphere on the moon, because
2Gm
d) along x–axis
l2 a) escape velocity of gas molecules is less than
16. Gravitational potential of the body of mass their root mean square velocity (1994)
m at a height h from surface of earth of radius
b) it is closer to the earth and also it has the
R is (take, g = acceleration due to gravity at
inactive inert gases in it
earth’s surface) (2013)
a)  g( R  h) b)  g( R  h) c) escape velocity of gas molecules is greater
than their root mean square velocity
c) g ( R  h ) d) g( R  h)
17. A body of mass m is taken from the earth’s d) it is too far from the sun and has very low
surface to the height equal to twice the radius pressure in its outer surface.
(R) of the earth. The change in potential
22. Two satellites of mass m1 & m2 (m1 > m2) are
energy of body will be (2013)
going around earth in orbits of radius r1 and r2
a) 3mgR b) (1/3)mgR (r1 > r2). Which statement about their velocities
c) 2 mgR d) (2/3)mgR is correct? (1994)

18. The change in the gravitational potential a) v1 < v2 b) v1 > v2

energy when a body of mass m is raised to a
height nR above the surface of the earth is c) v1/r1 = v2/r2 d) v1 = v2
(here R is the radius of the earth) (2017)
23. In what manner does the escape velocity of a
 n  mgR  n  particle depend upon its mass? (1994)
a)   b)  mgR
 n 1  n 1
a) m0 b) m2
mgR
c) nmgR d) c) m–1 d) m
n
VELOCITY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS 39
 Gravitation
24. The orbital speed of jupiter, is (1994) 31. Figure shows the
a) equal to the orbital speed of earth variation of energy
b) greater than the orbital speed of earth
with the orbit
c) proportional to the distance from the earth
d) less than the orbital speed of earth radius r of a satellite
25. A missile is launched with a velocity less than in a circular motion.
the escape velocity. The sum of its kinetic and
potential energies, is (1994) Mark the correct
a) positive b) zero statement. (2008)
c) negative d) first ‘b’ then ‘c’
a) C is total energy, B K.E. and A is P.E.
26. Escape velocity of a body when projected from
earth’s surface is 11.2 km/s. If it is projected b) A is K.E., B total energy and C P.E.
at an angle of 50° from the horizontal, the
escape velocity will be (1999,2001) c) A and B are the K.E. and P.E.s and C the total
energy of the satellite
a) 11.6 km/s b) 12.8 km/s
c) 11.2 km/s d) 16.2 km/s d) C and A are K.E. and P.E. respectively and B
the total energy of the satellite
27. The orbital velocity of an artificial satellite in
a circular orbit above the earth’s surface at a 32. A particle is thrown vertically upwards with
distance equal to radius of earth is v. For a velocity 11.2 km s–1 from the surface of earth.
satellite orbiting at an altitude half of earth’s Calculate its velocity at height 3R, where R is
radius, orbital velocity is (2001) the radius of earth. (2012)
3
a) v b) 3 / 2 v a) _~ 9.25 km s–1 b) _~ 5.6 km s–1
2
2 2 c) _~ 11.2 km s–1 d) _~ 4.3 km s–1
c) v d) v
3 3 33. A satellite is in an orbit around the earth. If
28. If vo be the orbital velocity of a satellite in a its kinetic energy is doubled, then (2000, 2014)
circular orbit close to the earth’s surface and
ve is the escape velocity from the earth, then a) it will maintain its path
relation between the two is (2002)
b) it will fall on the earth
a) vo  ve b) ve  3 v o
c) it will rotate with a great speed
c) ve  2 v o d) ve  2vo
d) it will escape out of earth’s gravitational field
29. The velocity with which a projectile must be
fired so that it escapes earth’s gravitation does 34. The additional K.E. to be provided to a satellite
not depend on (2003) of mass m revolving around a planet of mass
M to transfer it from a circular orbit of radius
a) mass of earth
R1 to another of radius R2 (R2 > R1) is (2016)
b) mass of projectile
c) radius of projectile’s orbit  1 1   1 1 
a) GmM R2  R2  b) GmM  
d) gravitational constant  1 2   R1 R2 
30. Height of geostationary satellite is (2007)
a) 16000 km b) 22000 km  1 1  1  1 1 
c) 2GmM  R  R  d) GmM   
 1 2  2  R1 R2 
c) 28000 km d) 36000 km

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 Gravitation
KEPLER’S LAWS Assertion And Reason
35. All the known planets move in (1994) 41. Assertion : Water kept in an open vessel will
quickly evaporate on the surface of the moon.
a) elliptical path b) straight path
c) hyperbolic path d) circular path Reason : The temperature at the surface of the
moon is much higher than the boiling point of
36. The radius vector, drawn from the Sun to a
water. (1995)
planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
This is the statement of (1995) 42. Assertion : The comets do not obey Kepler’s
a) Kepler’s 3rd law laws of planetary motion. (1995)

b) Kepler’s 1st law Reason : The comets do not have elliptical orbits.
c) Newton’s 3rd law 43. Assertion: The square of the perio d of
d) Kepler’s 2nd law revolution of a planet is proportional to the
cube of the semi-major axis of the ellipse.
37. Time period of pendulum, on a satellite
orbiting the earth, is (1995, 1997) Reason : Sun’s gravitational field is inversely
a) 1/  b) zero proportional to the square of its distance from
the planet. (1996)
c)  d) infinity
44. Assertion : If a pendulum falls freely, then its
38. Kepler’s second law is based on (2002)
time period becomes infinite.
a) Newton’s first law
Reason : Free falling body has acceleration,
b) special theory of relativity
equal to g. (1997)
c) Newton’s second law
45. Assertion : At pole value of acceleration due to
d) conservation of angular momentum gravity g is greater than that of equator.
39. The motion of planets in the solar system is
an example of the conservation of (2003) Reason : Earth rotates on its axis in addition to
revolving round the sun. (2001)
a) mass
46. Assertion : The time period of revolution of a
b) linear momentum
satellite around a planet is directly proportional
c) angular momentum to radius of orbit of the satellite.
d) energy Reason : Artificial satellites follow Kepler’s
40. Average distance of the earth from the sun is laws of planatary motion. (2001)
L1 . If one year of the earth = D days, one year
47. Assertion : Planet is a heavenly body revolving
of another planet whose average distance round the sun. (2002)
from the sun is L2 will be
Reason : Star is luminous body made of gaseous
1/ 2 3/ 2 material.
 L2   L2 
D 
a)   days  D 
b)    days
 L1   L1  48. Assertion : The earth without its atmosphere
would be inhospitably cold.
2/ 3
 L2   L2  Reason : All heat would escape in the absence
c) D  days d) D L  days of atmosphere. (2002)
 L1   1

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 Gravitation
49. Assertion : The length of day is slowly increasing. 53. Assertion : The difference in the value of
acceleration due to gravity at pole and equator
Reason : The dominant effect causing a is proportional to square of angular velocity of
slowdown in the rotation of the earth is the earth.
gravitational pull of other planets in the solar
system. (2003) Reason : The value of acceleration due to
gravity is minimum at the equator and
50. Assertion : A man in a closed cabin which is maximum at the pole. (2010)
falling freely does not experience gravity.
54. Assertion : Total energy is conserved in moving
Reason : Inertial and gravitational mass have a satellite to higher orbit. (2011)
equivalence. (2006)
Reason : Sum of change in PE and KE is same
51. Assertion : An astronaut experi ence in magnitude and opposite in nature.
weightlessness in a space satellite. (2007)
55. Assertion : Kepler ’s second law can be
Reason : When a body falls freely it does not understood by conservation of angular
experience gravity. momentum principle.

52. Assertion : Angular speed of a planet around Reason : Kepler’s second law is related with
the sun increases, when it is closer to the sun. areal velocity which can further be proved to
be based on conservation of angular
Reason : Total angular momentum of the momentum as (dA/dt) = (r2  )/2. (2017)
system remains constant. (2009)

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 Gravitation
PREVIOUS YEAR JIPMER MCQS
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY 5. The work done in shifting a particle of mass m
from centre of earth to the surface of the earth
is (where R is the radius of the earth) (2012)
1. A simple pendulum has a time period T1, when
on the earth’s surface; and T2, when taken to a
height R above the earth’s surface (R is the mgR
a) –mgR b) 
radius of the earth). Value of T2/T1 is (2015) 2

a) 1 b) 2 mgR
c) zero d) 
2
c) 4 d) 2
ESCAPE VELOCITY
2. A body is released from a point distance r
from the centre of earth. If R is the radius of 6. A projectile is fired vertically upwards from
the earth & r > R, then the velocity of the body the surface of the earth with a velocity kve,
at the time of striking the earth will be(2012) where ve is the escape velocity and k < 1. If R is
the radius of the earth, the maximum height to
a) gR b) 2 gR which it will rise measured from the centre of
the earth will be (2016)

2 gRr 2 gR( r  R) 1 k 2 R
c) d) a) b)
r R r R 1  k2

3. The speed of earth’s rotation about its axis is R

c) R(1  k 2 ) d)
ω . Its speed is increased to x times to make the 1  k2
effective acceleration due to gravity equal to zero
at the equator. Then x is (2011) 7. If a planet has twice the mass of earth and
three times the radius (R) of earth, then the
a) 1 b) 8.5 escape velocity of the planet is (ve = escape
velocity of earth) (2014)
c) 17 d) 34
1 2
a) ve b) ve
2 3
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, GRAVITATIONAL
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL ENERGY
c) 2 ve d) none of these
4. In gravitational potential energy, if h = 3R then
the potential energy becomes (2014) 8. The ratio of the energy required to raise a
satellite upto a height h above the earth of
radius R to that the kinetic energy of the
mgR mgR
a) b) satellite into that orbit is (2014)
4 3
a) R : h b) h : R
2 c) R : 2 h d) 2 h : R
c) mgR d) unpredictable
3

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 Gravitation
9. Two satellites A and B go round a planet P in 12. Two identical satellites A and B revolve
circular orbits having radii 4R and R around the earth in circular orbits at distance
respectively. If the speed of the satellite A is R and 3R from the surface of the earth. The
3v, the speed of satellite B will be (2013) ratio of the linear momenta of A and B is (R =
radius of the earth) (2011)
a) 12v b) 6v
a) 1 : 1 b) 1 : 2
c) (4 / 3)v d) (3 / 2)v
c) 2 : 1 d) 2 : 1
10. A planet in a distant solar system is 10 times
KEPLER’S LAWS
more massive than the earth and its radius is
10 times smaller. Given that the escape velocity 13. Kepler’s second law is a consequence of
from the earth is 11 km s–1, the escape velocity a) conservation of energy (2015)
from the surface of the planet would be (2012) b) conservation of linear momentum
c) conservation of angular momentum
a) 0.11 km s–1 b) 1.1 km s–1
d) conservation of mass
c) 11 km s –1
d) 110 km s –1 14. The longest and shortest distances of the earth
from the sun are r1 and r2. Its distance from
11. For a satellite moving in an orbit around the the sun when it is perpendicular to the major
earth, the ratio of kinetic energy to potential axis of the orbit drawn from the sun, is (2010)
energy is (2011) r1r2
r1  r2
a) b)
a) 2 b) 1 / 2 2 r1  r2
2 r1r2 r1  r2
c) 1 / 2 d) c) r  r d) r1r2
2 1 2

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 Gravitation
NCERT UNSOLVED
1. Suppose there existed a planet that went 9. Assuming the earth to be a sphere of uniform
around the sun twice as fast as the earth. What mass density, how much would a body weigh
would be its orbital size as compared to that of half way down to the centre of the earth if it
the earth? weighed 250 N on the surface?

2. Which of the following symptoms is likely to 10. A rocket is fired vertically with a speed of
5 km s–1 from earth’s surface. How far from the
afflict an astronaut in space?
earth does the roket go before returning to the
(a) swollen feet, earth? Mass of earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg, mean radius
(b) swollen face, of the earth = 6.4×106 m, G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2kg–2.
(c) headache, 11. The escape speed of a projectile on the earth’s
(d) orientational problem surface is 11.2 km s–1. A body is projected out
with thrice this speed. What is the speed of the
3. In the following two
body far away from the earth? Ignore the
exercises, choose the presence of the sun and other planets.
correct answer from 12. A satellite orbits the earth at a height of 400 km
among the given ones: above the surface. How much energy must be
expended to rocket the satellite out of earth’s
The gravitational
gravitational influence? Mass of the satellite =
intensity at the centre of a hemispherical shell 200 kg, mass of the earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg, radius
of uniform mass density has the direction of earth = 6.4 × 106 m, G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2kg–2.
indicated by the arrow (i) a, (ii) b, (iii) c, (iv) 0. 13. Two heavy spheres each of mass 100 kg and
4. For the above problem, the direction of the radius 0.10 m are placed 1.0 m apart on a
gravitational intensity at an arbitrary point P is horizontal table. What is the gravitational force
indicated by the arrow (i) d, (ii) e, (iii) f, (iv) g. and potential at the mid point of the line joining
5. A rocket is fired from the earth towards the sun. the centres of the spheres? Is an object placed
At what distance from the earth’s centre is the at that point in equilibrium? If so, is the
equilibrium stable or unstable?
gravitational force on the rocket zero? Mass of
the sun = 2 × 1030 kg, mass of earth = 6 × 1024 kg. 14. As you have learnt in the text, a geostationary
Neglect the effect of other planets etc. satellite orbits the earth at a height of nearly
36000 km from the surface of the earth. What is
(Orbital radius = 1.5 × 1011 m)
the potential due to earth’s gravity at the site of
6. How will you ‘weigh the sun’, that is estimate this satellite? (Take the potential energy at infinity
its mass? The mean orbital radius of the earth to be zero). Mass of earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg, radius =
around the sun is 1.5 × 108 km. 6400 km.
7. A saturn year is 29.5 times the earth year. 15. A rocket is fired vertically from the surface of
How far is the saturn from the sun if the earth mars with a speed of 2 km s–1. If 20% of its initial
is 1.50 × 108 km away from the sun? energy is lost due to martian atmospheric
8. A body weighs 63 N on the surface of the earth. resistance, how far will rocket go from surface
of mars before returning to it? Mass of mars =
What is the gravitational force on it due to the
6.4 × 1023 kg, radius of mars = 3395 km, G =
earth at a height equal to half the radius of the
6.67×10–11 Nm2kg–2.
earth?

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 Gravitation
NCERT EXEMPLAR
1. The earth is an approximate sphere. If the 5. Both the earth and the moon are subject to the
interior contained matter which is not of the gravitational force of the sun. As observed from
same density everywhere, then on the surface the sun, the orbit of the moon
of the earth, the acceleration due to gravity
a) will be directed towards the centre but not a) will be elliptical
the same everywhere
b) will not be strictly elliptical because the total
b) will have the same value everywhere but not
gravitational force on it is not central
directed towards the centre
c) will be same everywhere in magnitude c) is not elliptical but will necessarily be a
directed towards the centre closed curve
d) cannot be zero at any point
2. As observed from the earth, the sun appears d) deviates considerably from being elliptical
to move in an approximate circular orbit. For due to influence of planets other than the
the motion of another planet like mercury as earth
observed from the earth, this would
6. In our solar system, the inter-planetary region
a) be similarly true
b) not be true because the force between the earth has chunks of matter (much smaller in size
and mercury is not inverse squre law compared to planets) called asteroids. They
c) not be true because the major gravitational a) will not move around the sun, since they
force on mercury is due to the sun have very small masses compared to the sun
d) not be true because mercury is influenced by
forces other than gravitational forces b) will move in an irregular way because of
3. Different points in the earth are at slightly their small masses and will drift away into
different distances from the sun and hence outer space
experience different forces due to gravitation.
For a rigid body, we know that if various forces c) will move around the sun in closed orbits
act at various points in it, the resultant motion but not boey Kepler’s laws
is as if a net force acts on the centre of mass
d) will move in orbits like planets and obey
causing translation and a net torque at the
Kepler’s laws
centre of mass causing rotation around an axis
through the centre of mass. For the earth-sun 7. Choose the wrong option:
system (approximating the earth as a uniform
density sphere) a) Inertial mass is a measure of difficulty of
a) the torque is zero accelerating a body by an external force
b) the torque causes the earth to spin whereas the gravitational mass is relevant
c) the rigid body result is not applicable since in determining the gravitational force on it
earth is not even approximately a rigid body by an external mass
d) the torque causes the earth to move around
the sun b) That the gravitational mass and inertial
4. Satellites orbiting the earth have finite life and mass are equal is an experimental result
sometimes debris of satellites fall to the earth. c) That the acceleration due to gravity on the
This is because earth is the same for all bodies is due to the
a) solar cells & batteries in satellites run out
equality of gravitational mass and inertial
b) the laws of gravitation predict a trajectory
mass
spiralling inwards
c) of viscous forces causing the speed of d) Gravitational mass of a particle like proton
satellite and hence height to gradually can depend on the presence of neighbouring
decreases heavy objects but the inertial mass cannot
d) of collisions with other satellites

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 Gravitation
8. Particles o f masses 2M, m and M are 20. Mean solar day is the time interval between
respectively at points A, B and C wi th two successive noon when sun passes through
1 zenith point (meridian).
AB  (BC) . m is much-much smaller than M Sidereal day is the time interval between two
2
successive transit of a distant star through the
and at time zenith point (meridian).
t = 0, they are all at By drawing appropriate diagram showing the
rest as given in figure. At subsequent times earth’s spin and orbital motion, show that mean
before any collision takes place. solar day is 4 min longer than the sidereal day.
a) m will remain at rest In other words, distant stars would rise 4 min
b) m will move towards M early every successive day.
c) m will move towards 2M 21. Two identical heavy spheres are separated by
d) m will have oscillatory motion a distance 10 times their radius. Will an object
9. Molecules in air in the atmosphere are attached placed at the mid–point of the line joining their
by gravitational force of the earth. Explain why centres be in stable equilibrium or unstable
all of them do not fall into the earth just like an equilibrium? Give reason for your answer.
apple falling from a tree. 22. Show the nature of the following graph for a
10. Give one example each of central force and satellite orbitting the earth.
non-central force. a) Kinetic energy versus orbital radius R
11. Draw areal velocity versus time graph for mars. b) Potential energy versus orbital radius R
12. What is the direction of areal velocity of the c) Total energy versus orbital radius R
earth around the sun? 23. Shown are several curves [figure (a), (b), (c),
13. How is the gravitational force between two (d), (e), (f)]. Explain with reason, which ones
point masses affected when they are dipped in amongst them can be possible trajectories
water keeping the separation between them the traced by a projectile (neglect air friction).
same?
14. Is it possible for a body to have inertia but no
weight?
15. We can shield a charge from electric fields by
putting it inside a hollow conductor. Can we
shield a body from the gravitational influence
of nearby matter by putting it inside a hollow
sphere or by some other means?
16. An astronaut inside a small spaceship orbitting
around the earth cannot detect gravity. If the
space station orbitting around the earth has a 24. An object of mass m is raised from the surface
large size, can he hope to detecct gravity? of the earth to a height equal to the radius of
17. The gravitational force between a hollow the earth, that is, taken from a distance R to 2R
spherical shell (of radius R and uniform from the centre of the earth. What is the gain
density) and a point mass is F. Show the nature in its potential energy?
of F versus r graph where r is the distance of 25. A mass m is placed at P
the point from the centre of the hollow a distance h along the
spherical shell of uniform density. normal through the
18. Out of aphelion and perihelion, where is the centre O of a thin circular
speed of the earth more and why? ring of mass M & radius r
19. What is the angle between the equatorial plane as shown in figure. If the
and the orbital plane of - mass is moved further
a) polar satellite? away such that OP becomes 2h, by what factor
b) geostationary satellite? the force of gravitation will decrease, if h = r?

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