CBSE Class9thNCERT Solution: Science

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Chapter10Gravitation
Intext QuestionsOn Page 134
Question 1:
State the universal law ofgravitation.
Solution:
According to universal law ofgravitation, the force of attraction between two ob
jects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely prop
ortional to the square of the distance between them. Force of attraction between
two objects of mass m1and m2placed at ddistance apart is given by:
122mmFGd
where, G= universal gravitational constant.
Question 2:
Write the formula to find the magnitude of thegravitational force between the ea
rth and an object on the surface of the earth.
Solution:
The force of attraction between the earth and an object on its surface is given
by
2MmFGR
whereG= Universal gravitational constant, M= Mass of earth, m= Mass of Object, R
=Radius of earth.(Here we have considered that the whole mass of earth is concen
trated at its centre.)

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On Page 136
Question 1:
What do you mean by free fall?
Solution:
An object falling towards Earth freely due to the Earths gravitational pull alone
is termed as an object under free fall.
Question 2:
What do you mean by acceleration due to gravity?

Solution:
The acceleration that an object has in its freefall towards earth is called acce
leration due to gravity. Forearth, the value of acceleration due to gravity is 9
.8ms-2.
On Page 138
Question 1:
What are the differences between the mass of an object and its weight?
Solution:
The difference between mass and weight of an object aregiven below.S.No.MassWeig
ht1.The quantity of matter contained in a body is called the mass of the body.Th
e force with which the earth attracts a bodytowards its centre is called the wei
ght of the body.2.Mass of a body is never zero.Weight of a body at thecentre of
theearth is zero.3.Mass of a body remains constant.Weight of a body changes from
place to place.4.Mass is measured by a beam balance.Weight is measured byaweigh
ingmachine ora spring balance.5.Mass is a scalar quantity.Weight is a vector qua
ntity.6.Mass is measured in kg.Weight is measured in kg-wt or N.

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Question 2:
Why is theweight of an object on the moon
1th6
its weight on the earth?
Solution:
Weight of an object w= mgwhere, m= mass of the object, g= acceleration due to gr
avity. The mass of an object mremains constant at all the places. Acceleration d
ue to gravitychanges from place to place. So, we can say that the weight of an o
bject depends on the acceleration dueto gravity.At moon, the acceleration due to
gravity is
1th6
that of the earth, this is the reason why the weight of an object on the moon is
1th6
of its weight on the earth.
On Page 141
Question 1:

Why is it difficult to hold a school bag havinga strap made of a thin and strong
string?
Solution:
It is difficult to hold a school bag having a strap made of a thin and strong st
ringbecause the area under the strap is small. Hence large pressure is exerted b
y the strap on the fingers or shoulders. Due to the large pressure, the strap te
nds to cut the skin and hence pain is caused.
Question 2:
What do you mean by buoyancy?
Solution:
The tendencyof an object to float in a liquid or the ability of liquid to make a
n object float in it is called buoyancy.
Question 3:
Why does an object float on sink when placed on the surfaceof water?
Solution:
When an object is placed on the surfaceof water, two forces acts on the object.

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(i) The weight of the object, acting vertically downward.(ii) The upthrust of th
e water, acting vertically upward.The object will float on the surface of water
if theupthrust is greater than the weight of the object. The object will sink if
the weight of the object is more than the upthrust of the water.
On Page 142
Question 1:
You find your mass to be 42 kg on aweighing machine. Is your mass more or less t
han 42 kg?
Solution:
The weight of an object w = mgwhere,m = mass of the object g =acceleration due t
o gravity = 9.8 ms-2So, mass of the object,
wm =g
From the above expression, it is clear that mass is less than the weight of the
object.
Question 2:
You have abag of cotton and an iron bar, each indicating a mass of 100 kg when m
easured on a weighingmachine. In reality, one is heavier than other. Can you say

which one is heavierand why?

Solution:
Iron bar is heavier than the cotton bag because forthe mass the iron bar will ha
velesser surfacearea and hence will apply more pressure on holding.

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Exercises
Question 1:
How does the force of gravitation between two objects change when the distancebe
tween them is reduced to half?
Solution:
111122222222Force of gravitation between two objectsIf distance is reduced to ha
lf i.e., /2Then new force of gravitation, 4(/2)4i.e., the force of gravitation
becomes 4 timmFGrrrGmmFrmmmmGGrrF
mes than the original value.
Question 2:
Gravitational forceacts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then,
aheavy object does not fall faster than a light object?
Solution:
Each object falls towards the earth with the acceleration, equal toacceleration
due to gravity, which is constant (9.8 ms-2) and does not depend on the mass of
the object. So, heavyobject does not fall faster than the light object.
Question 3:
What is the magnitude of thegravitational force between the earth and a 1 kgobje
ct on its surface? (Mass of the earth is 6 x 1024kg and radius of the earth is 6
.4 106m.)
Solution:
2112224Gravitationalforcebetweentheearth andanobjectwhere,Gravitationalconstant6
.6710Nm-kg
Mass of earth6 10 kg GMmFRGM

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6112462
Radius of earth6.4 10m
ce,F9.8N(6.410)Rm
Question 4:

Mass of object1 kg6.67106101Hen

The earth and the moon are attracted to each other bygravitational force. Doesth
e earth attract the moon with a force that is greater or smaller or the same as
the force with which the moon attracts the earth? Why?
Solution:
When two objects attract each other then gravitational force of attraction appli
ed byfirst object on the second object is same as the force applied by the secon
d object on the first object. So, both earth and moon attract each otherby the s
amegravitational force of attraction.
Question 5:
If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?
Solution:
The earth does not move towards the moon in spite of the attraction by moon beca
use the force with which moon attracts the earth is same by which earth attracts
the moon. So, net force on the system becomes zero.
Question 6:
What happens to the force between two objects, if (i)Themass of one object is do
ubled?(ii)Thedistance between the objects is doubled and tripled?(iii)Themasses
of both objects are doubled?
Solution:
12212Force of attraction between two objectsGmm
rwhere,
m, mMasses of the objects,
rDistance between the
objects,
GF
Gravitational constant.

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121222(i) If mass of one object is doubled, then the new forceG (2m) mG mm
2 2rr
i.e., force becomes-double. (ii) If the di
stance between the objects is doubFF
121222122led, then the new forceG mmG mm
(2r)4rG mm11
()4r4
4i.e., force becomes one-fourth. If the distance between the objeFFF
1212221221cts is
tripled, then G mmG mmnew force (3r)9rG mm11
9r99i.e., force
becomes one-ninth. (iii) If masses of both objects are doubled, then G (2m)new f
orce FFFF
21222(2m)G mm44rri.e., force becomes four times.F
Question 7:
What is the importance of universal law ofgravitation?
Solution:
The importance of universal law ofgravitation can be understood from the followi
ngpoints: a)All the planets revolve around the sun due to gravitational force be
tween the sun and planets. Hencegravitational force is responsible for the exist
ence of solar system. b)Tides in oceans areformed due to thegravitational force

between the moon and water in oceans.c)Theatmosphere of the earth is attached wi

th it due to gravitational force of earth. d)Artificial satellites revolve aroun
d the earth due to gravitational force of earth.e)We can stand on the surface of
earth due to gravitational force of earth.

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Question 8:
What is the acceleration offree fall?
Solution:
The acceleration produced in the motion of an object when it falls freely toward
s theearthis termed acceleration of free fall. It is also called acceleration du
e to gravity. Its value on earth surface is 9.8ms-2.
Question 9:
What do we call the gravitational force between the earth and an object?
Solution:
The gravitational force between the earth and an object is called force of gravi
ty.
Question 10:
Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the instruction of one of his fr
iends. He hands over the same when he meets him at the equator. Will the friend
agree with theweight of the gold bought?If not, why?[Hint:The value ofg is great
er at thepoles thanat the equator.]
Solution:
Weight of an object, w= mgwhere, g= acceleration due to gravityThe value ofgis g
reater at the poles than at the equator. So, the weight of the gold at the equat
or will be less than the weight of the gold at poles. So, Amit s friend will fin
d the weight of the gold less than the weight told by Amit.
Question 11:
Why will a sheetof paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball?
Solution:
The sheet of paper falls slower than one that is crumpled into a ball because in
first case the area of the sheet is more so it experiences large opposing force
dueto air. While the sheet crumpled into a ball experience less opposing force
due to small area.
Question 12:
Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is only

16
as strong as gravitational force on the earth. What is the weight in Newtonof a
10 kg object on the moon and on the earth?

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Solution:
Mass of the object 10 kgWeight on the earth
98 N1Weight on the moon of the weight on theearth 61
9816.33 N6mwmg

109.8

Question 13:
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 ms-1. Calculate(i)Them
aximum height to which it rises,(ii)Thetotal time it takes to return to the surf
ace of the earth.
Solution:
-122Initial velocity, U = 49ms(i) At the maximum height velocity becomes zero,
Final velocity v = 0
From equation of upward motion
v = u 2gh
22
0 = (49) 2 9.8 h (49)
h = = 122.5 m2 9.8
Maximum height attained = 122.5 m
(ii) Time taken
by the ball to reach the maximum height.
From equati
on of upward motion v =
u gt
0 = 49 9.8 t 49
t = = 5 s9.8
In the motion against gravity,
the time of d escent is same as the time of ascent.
So, time taken by the ball
to fall from maximum height = 5 s
Total time taken by the ball to return to
surface of the earth = 5 + 5 = 10s

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Question 14:
A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its fina
l velocity just before touching the ground.
Solution:
222Given, h = 19.6mInitial velocity u = 0 (It starts from rest)From equation of
motion, v = u + 2gh
v = 0 + 2 9.8 19.6
1= 19.6 19.6
v =19.6 19.6
= 19
.6msFinal velocity of stone just before touching the ground = 19.6ms
1
Question 15:
A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 ms-1. Takingg

=10 ms-2, find the maximum height reached by the stone. What is the net displac
ement and thetotal distance covered bythe stone?
Solution:
12222Initial velocity u = 40 msAt maximum height, final velocity becomes zero i.
e, v = 0From equation of motion v = u 2gh
(0) = (40) 2 10 h
0 = 1600 20h1600
h = = 80m20 Maximum height reached by the s
tone = 80 mAfter reaching the maximum height, the stone will fal l towards theearth
and will reach the earth surface covering the same distance. So, distance cover
ed by the stone = 80 + 80 = 160 mDisplacement of the stone = 0 (because the ston
e starts from the earth surface and finally reaches theearth surface again, i.e.
, the initial and final position of the stone are same)

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Question 16:
Calculate the force of gravitation between the earth and the sun, given that the
mass of the mass of the earth = 6 1024kg and of the sun = 2 1030kg. The average
distancebetween the two is 1.5 1011m.
Solution:
se2112230s24eThe force of attraction between the earth and the sunGMM
= rwhere, G = 6.67 10NmkgGiven, mass of the sun, M = 2 10k
gMass of the earth, M = 6 10kgF
1111302411222Average distance between the earth and
the sun = 1.5 106.67 10 2 10 6 10
= (1.5 10)
= 3.6 10NF
Question 17:
A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower 100 m high and at the same
time another stone is projected vertically upwards from the groundwith a velocit
y of 25 ms-1. Calculate when and wherethe two stones will meet.
Solution:
Let after time both stone meet and bethe distance travelled by the stone droppe
d from the topof tower at which the stones will meet. Distance travelled by the
stone dropped Distance travelled tss 2by the stone projected upwards
(100) mFor the stone dropped from the tower
1
s+2
sutgt
21
0+ (10)2(0 because stone is dropped i.e., it starts f
rom rest)tu

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22

s5t

... (i)For the stone projected upward 1

s 2(Due to upward motion negautgt
2222tive sign is taken)1
(100)25102
1002515From Eq. (i)
1005255
25sttsttttt
22100 t4 The stones
et after 4
s5t5(4)80 The stones will be at a distan
ce of 80from the top of tower or 20 (10080) fromthe base of the tower.ssmmmmm
Question 18:
A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower after 6 s. Find:(a) Theveloci
ty with which it was thrown up, (b)Themaximum height it reaches, and (c) Itsposi
tion after 4 s.
Solution:
Total time taken6 s 6 Time taken to reach
(
equation of motion,
svugt
is taken due to upward motion)Total time
imum height3
( Time of ascentTime of

the maximum height32

Time of ascentTime of descent)(a) From

(Negative s
taken6 s 6 Time taken to reach the max
descent)2s

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1(a) From equation of motion,
(
Negative sign is taken due to upward motion)09.8 3 ( At maximum height0)
29.4 ms(b) Frovugtuvu
2222m equation of motion
2
0(29.4)29.8(29.4)
.1 29.8Maximum height attained by the ball is 44.1. (c) In initial 3 s, the bal
l will rise then in next 3 it falls tvughhhmms
2oward the earth. The position after
)
Distance covered in 1 s in the downward motion 1Fro
m equation of motion, 2
shutgt
21
09.8(1)2
4.9i.e., the ball will be at 4.9 from th
e top of the tower.mm
Question 19:
In what direction does the buoyant force on an object immersed in a liquid act?
Solution:
The buoyant force on an object immersed in a liquid always act in upward directi
on.
Question 20:
Why does a block of plastic released under water come up to the surface of water
?
Solution:
The up-thrust or buoyant force acting on the block of plastic bythe water is gre
ater thanthe weight of the plastic block. So, plastic block come up to the surfa
ce of water.
Question 21:

The volumeof 50g of a substance is 20 cm3. If the density of water is 1 g cm-3,

will the substance float or sink.

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Solution:
3Mass of substance50g Volume of substance20 cmMass Density of substance, dVolume
50
1.25 g cm-320i.e., the density of the
substance is greater than the de
nsity of water, so itwill sink in water.
Question 22:
The volume of a 500 g sealed packet is 350 cm3. Will the packet float or sink in
water if the density of water is 1gcm-3? What will be the mass of the waterdisp
laced by this packet?
Solution:

33Mass of packet500 g Volume of packet350 cmMass Density of packet, dVolume500

1.43 gcm350i.e., the density of packet is great
er than density of water, so it w
ill sink in water. Mass of water displaced by the pac
et
Volume of packetDensity of water
3501350g
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