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Physics Gravitation PDF
Physics Gravitation PDF
Page 1
Introduction
Ptolemy, in second century, gave geo-centric theory of planetary motion in which the Earth
is considered stationary at the centre of the universe and all the stars and the planets
including the Sun revolving round it.
Nicolaus Copernicus, in sixteenth century, gave helio-centric theory in whi h the Sun is
fixed at the centre of the universe and all the planets moved in perfect circles around it.
Tycho Brahe had collected a lot of data on the motion of planets but died bef re analyzing
them.
Johannes Kepler analyzed Brahes data and gave three laws of planet ry motion known as
Keplers laws.
ce
.c
om
xa
ra
w
w
.e
Every particle in the universe attracts towards it every other particle with a force
directly proportional o the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the
distance between them. This is the statement of Newtons universal law of gravitation.
Two
particles
of
position v ctors
in the ig re.
masses
m1
and
m2
having
F12
^
r12
= G
m1m 2
r2
r12
l r12 l
r12 , where
r2
- r1
r
8 - GRAVITATION
2
S I unit of G is Nm /kg
Page 2
-11
-1
The force exerted on particle 2 by particle 1, F21 , is the same in magnitude but opposite in
om
F21
m1m 2
= - G
r2
ce
.c
f th
Earth is denoted by g.
The gravitational force, F, exerted by the Earth having mass, Me and radius Re, on an
object having mass m and situated at a distance r ( r Re from the centre of the Earth, is
r2
F
m
GM e
g =
ra
mM e
F = G
r2
For an object on the surface of the Earth ( r = Re ), the acceleration due to gravity is,
GM e
ge =
(2)
xa
R e2
The value of g varies with height nd depth from the surface of the Earth and also with the
latitude of the place as discussed below.
.e
w
w
Using equation 1 ), the acceleration due to gravity at a height h from the surface of the
Earth is given by
g(h) =
GM
( Q r = Re + h ) ( 3 )
( R e + h )2
R e2
( R e + h )2
1
2
g(h) =
h
1+
R e
2h
g ( h ) = ge 1
Re
ge
h
1+
Re
h
= g e 1 +
R
e
(5)
Eqn. ( 4 ) is valid for any height h, but eqn. ( 5 ) can be used only when h << Re.
-2
(4)
8 - GRAVITATION
Page 3
g(r) =
3 G R e
g(r )
g ( Re )
r
Re
ra
g ( Re ) =
g ( Re )
r
Re
f g ( r ) r.
ce
.c
3
g(r) =
=
= G r
2
2
3
r
r
om
.e
xa
w
w
g(d) =
- d ) = g e 1
d
Re
mv 2
2
= m r in
r
PR is m r cos .
2
[ g e = g ( Re ) ]
8 - GRAVITATION
Page 4
As the gravitational attraction mg and the component of centrifugal force m r cos are in
2
the opposite directions, the resultant force acting on the body is mg - m r cos . If g is
the effective gravitational acceleration at P, then
2
g = g - r cos
2
om
mg = mg - m r cos
2R e
g = g 1 cos 2
(i)
At the equator, = 0 and cos = 1. Hence, the centrifugal acce eration is Re and
is maximum. Hence, the effective acceleration due to gravity g is minimum.
ce
.c
ra
( ii ) At the poles of the Earth, = 90 and cos = 0. H nce, he effective acceleration due
to gravity g ( = g ) is maximum at the poles. M reover the radius of the Earth at the
poles is less than the radius at the equator. This also results in the increase in the
value of g.
8.4 Gravitational potential and gravitational potential energy near the surface
of the Earth
xa
.e
w
w
= -
r2
r,
where
If t e displacement of the object under this force, away from the centre of the Earth, is dr,
he work done is
dW =
F dr
^
GM e ^
= r . ( dr r )
r2
= -
GM e
r2
dr
(Q
^ ^
rr = 1)
Thus, the total work ( W ) done in bringing a unit mass from infinity to a point situated at a
distance r from the centre of the Earth against the gravitational field which is defined as the
gravitational potential ( ) at that point is
8 - GRAVITATION
W = =
GM e
r2
dr
GM e
r
= -
Page 5
GM e
r
om
e = -
GM e m
r
U = -
ce
.c
The work done in bringing an object of mass m, from infinity to a given point in
gravitational field is defined as the gravitational potential energy ( U of the combined
system of object and the Earth at that point.
ra
arth,
The gravitational potential and the gravitatio al potential energy of a body of mass m due to
the Earths gravitational field are zero t infini y. When a body moves from infinity to a point
in the gravitational field, its potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.
xa
GM e m
Re
GM e m
energy in the form of kinetic energy, it can escape from the
Re
gravitational field of the Earth and go to infinity. This minimum energy is called the binding
energy of the body. It is also called the escape energy and the corresponding speed is called
escape speed ( ve
w
w
.e
GM e m
Re
1
mv e 2
2
Escape speed, ve =
2GM e
Re
2GM e
R e2
2 9.8 6400 10 3
Re
2gR e
= 11.2 km /s
The escape speed is independent of the mass of the body and can be in any direction. If the
stationary body on the surface of the Earth is imparted speed equal to or more than the
escape speed, it will escape from the gravitational field of the Earth forever.
8 - GRAVITATION
Page 6
8.6 Satellites
mv o 2
r
= G
mM e
r2
ce
.c
om
A satellite is an object revolving around a planet under the effect of its gravitational field. Its
orbital motion depends on the gravitational attraction of the planet and the initial conditions.
Satellite can be natural or artificial. The Moon is a natural satellite. Sputnik was the first
artificial satellite put into its orbit by Russia in 1957. India has launched Ar abhatta and
INSAT series satellites. Satellites are used for scientific, engineering, commerci
spy ng and
military applications.
GM e
r
xa
ra
2
T 2 = 4 2r = 4 r 3
T
r3
GM
e
vo
Thus, The square of the period of the planet is directly proportional to the cube of
its radius. This is Keplers third law with reference to circular orbit.
.e
Geo-stationary satellite:
w
w
A satellite of the Earth having orbital time period same as that of the Earth, i.e., 24 hours
and moving i equatorial plane is called a geo-stationary ( or geo-synchronous ) satellite as it
appears stationary when viewed from the Earth.
Putting G = 6.67 10 2
11
Nm /kg , M e = 6 10
24
4 2
r 3 , we get r = 42,260 km.
GM e
the height of the geo-stationary satellite above the surface of the Earth is,
Polar satellite:
The polar satellite orbits in a north-south direction as the Earth spins below it in an eastwest direction. Thus, it can scan the entire surface of the Earth. The satellites which monitor
weather, environment and the spy satellites are in low flying polar orbits ( 500-800 km ).