GRAVITATION

CLASSWORK
1. Areal velocity of a satellite around the sun is
(1) Less than that of the areal velocity of earth.
(2) Greater than that of the areal velocity of Mars.
(3) Same as that of the areal velocity of earth.
(4) Greater than that of the areal velocity of earth.
1. (4)
 dA 
2. A planet revolves around the sun in elliptical orbit. The areal velocity   of the planet is 4.0 
 dt 
1016 m2/s. The least distance between planet and the sun is 2  1012 m. Then the minimum speed
of the planet in km/s is :
(1) 10 (2) 20 (3) 30 (4) 40

 dA  2 4 10  2
16
dA L mv R v R
2. (4)    R    4  104  40 km
dT 2m 2m 2  dT  v 2 10 12

3. If a graph is plotted between T2 and r3 for a planet then its slope will be -
4 2 GM
(1) (2) (3) 4 GM (4) 0
GM 4 2
2
 2r 
T2   (2r ) 2  4 2 mv 0 2 GMm GM
3. (1) 3 =  v0  = 3 r    2  v 02  
r r GM GM r r r
r3

T2 4 2
Slope of T2 – r3 curve tan  
r3 GM
4. At what height above the Earth’s surface does the force of gravity decrease by 10%. Assume
radius of earth to be 6400 km.
(1) 350km. (2) 250km (3) 150km. (4) 300km.
4. (1) Force of gravity at surface of earth, F1 = Gm M/R2 ....(1)
Force of gravity at height H is F2 = Gm M (R + H)2 ....(2)
 F1 
 
Dividing (1) by (2) and Rearranging H = R  F 1 = 350 km where (F2 = .9F1)
 2 
5. Gravitational potential at the centre of a uniform solid sphere of mass ‘M’ and radius ‘R’ is (if
GM
potential due to the sphere at the infinity is .)
R
3GM GM GM
(1)  (2)  (3)  (4) None
2R 2R R
GM
5. Two gravitational potential at infinity is . Hence everywhere potential will be increased by
R
GM 3GM GM GM
. So potential at the centre is  
R 2R R 2R
6. A uniform solid sphere of radius R has a mass M. A spherical position of the sphere centred at
distance R/2 from the centre C of the sphere and of radius R/2 is cut away and removed. The
force of gravity due to the remaining mass of the sphere on unit mass at a point P at a distance 2R
from C along CO will be (in magnitude)
 R

C O
 P

7GM 7GM 7GM 7GM

(1) (2) (3) (4)
32R 2 36R 2 8R 2 16R 2
6. Mass of cut-out area : M /8
GM GM
= force due to complete disc =

F1
 2R 
2
4R 2

G  M /8  GM
F2  Force due to cavity  
 2R  R / 2 
2
18R 2

7GM
F2 = Required force = F1  F2 
36R 2
7. A solid sphere of uniform density and radius R apply a gravitational force of attraction equal to F 1
on a particle placed at a distance 3R from the centre of the sphere. A spherical cavity of radius R/
2 is now made in the sphere as shown in figure. The sphere with cavity now applies a gravitational
force F2 on the same particles the ratio F2/F1 is

9 41 3 22
1) 2) 3) 4)
50 50 25 25
GMm GMm
7. (2)Gravitational force due to solid sphere is
F1  
 3R 
2
9R2
where M and m are mass of solid sphere and particle respectively. Gravitational force on particle
due to sphere with cavity.

M 
G   m GMm 1
 4  GMm  41  F1 50
  2 
GMm 8    
F2 
9R 2
 5R / 2  9 R  9 8  25 
2 
R 2  50  9  F2 41
 R
8. From a solid sphere of mass M and radius R, a spherical portion of radius is removed, as
2
shown in the figure. Taking gravitational potential V = 0 at r =  , the potential at the centre of the
cavity thus formed is (G = gravitational constant)

GM GM 2GM 2GM

1) 2) 3) 4)
2R R 3R R
8. V  V1  V2
M 
3G  
GM  R 
2
 8  GM
V1   3 3R 2     & V2    R  V 
2 R   2   2  R
2
1
9. At what distance from the centre of the earth the weight of body becomes times its weight
16
that on the surface of the earth ? Radius of the earth is R.
(1) 3R (2) 4R (3) 5R (4) 8R
g g g g
g,  2 ; g,    2
9. (2) 1 h  16 ; 16  h
   1  
 R  R
h h
 1  4   3,  h  3 R  distance from centre of earth = R + 3R = 4R
R R
10. How much below the surface of the earth does the acceleration due to gravity become 10 % of its
value at the earth.s surface ? (Radias of the earth R = 6400 km)
(1) 6336 km (2) 5400 km (3) 5760 km (4) 5980 km
10. (3) gravitational acceleration on earth surface is g and at depth d from earth surface is g’.
 d 10  d
 g ,  10% g and g ,  g  1    g  g1 
 R  100  R
1 Rd 6400  d 1
     6400  d  640  d = 6400 - 640 = 5760 km
10 R 6400 10
11. The ratio of weights of a body of mass m at a height of 30 km above earth.s surface to a depth of
30 km from the surface of the earth is
(1) 0.946 (2) 0.962 (3) 0.984 (4) 0.995
11. (4) Suppose, gravitational acceleration g1 and g2 and weight of object are W1 and W2 for
height h and depth d from earth.s surface respectively.
2h
1
 2h   d   g1  R  R  2h
g1  g  1   , g2  g  1   g2 1  d Rd
 R  R
R
W1 mg1 R  2 h 6400  2  30  6340
 Ratio of weight      0.995
W2 mg2 Rd 6400  30 6370
12. Imagine a light planet revolving around a very massive star in a circular orbit of radius R with a
period of revolution T. If the gravitational force of attraction between planet and star is
5
proportional to R 2 , then T 2 is proportional to
(1) R 3 (2) R7 / 2 (3) R5 / 2 (4) R 3 / 2
12. (2)For revolution of planet centripetal force is provided by gravitational force of attraction
1 7 / 2
m 2 R  R 5 / 2  T 2  R  T 2  R7 / 2

13 A satellite S is moving in an elliptical orbit around the earth. The mass of the satellite is very small
compared to the mass of earth
(1)The acceleration of S is always directed towards the centre of the earth
(2)The angular momentum of S about the centre of the earth changes in direction but its magnitude
remains constant
(3)The total mechanical energy of S varies periodically with time
(4)The linear momentum of S remains constant in magnitude
13. (1)
14. The masses and the radius of the earth and the moon are M1, M2 and R1, R2 respectively their
centres are at distance d apart. The minimum speed with which a particle of mass m should be
projected form a point midway between the two centres so as to escape to infinity will be -

G G G G M1
(1) 2 ( M1  M 2 ) (2) ( M1  M 2 ) (3) ( M1  M 2 ) (4) 2
d d 2d d M2
14. (1) The P.E of the mass at d/2 due to the earth and moon is
Earth Moon
R1 P O2
O1 m R2
M2
M1
d

GM1m GM 2 m 2Gm
U=–2 –2 or U = – (M1 + M2)
d d d

1 G
(Numerically) m Ve2 = U  Ve = 2 ( M1  M 2 )
2 d
15. If the period of revolution of an artificial satellite just above the earth be T and the density of
earth be  , then
3
(1)  T2 is a universal constant (2)  T2 varies with time (3)  T2 = (4)  T2 = 3 × G
G
(1) (1) & (2) are correct (2) (1) & (3) are correct
(3) (2) & (3) are correct (4) (1), (2) & (3) are correct
4 2 ( R e  h ) 3
15. (2) If the period of revolution of a satellite about the earth be T, then T2 =
GM e

4 2 (R e  h) 3
where h is the height of the satellite from earth’s surface. Me =
GT 2
The satellite is revolving just above the earth, hence h is negligible compared to Re.
3
4 2 R e 4
Me = 2 But Me =  Re3  where  is the density of the earth. Thus
GT 3
3
4 4 2 R e 3
 Re3  = 2   T2 = .
3 GT G
 3
which is universal constant. To determine its value,  T2 =
G
16. A rocket of mass M is launched vertically from the surface of the earth with an initial speed V.
Assuming the radius of the earth to be R and negligible air resistance, the maximum height attained
by the rocket above the surface of the earth is
 gR   gR   2 gR
  2 gR 
(1) R /  2V 2  1 (2) R  2V 2  1 (3) R /  V 2  1 (4) R V 2  1
       

2 1   1 1
16. (3) K.E.  U  2 MV  GM e M  R  R  h  …(i)
 
GM e
Also g  …(ii)
R2
R
h
On solving (i) and (ii)  2 gR 
 2  1
 V 

17. Two bodies of masses m1 and m2 are initially at rest at infinite distance apart. They are then
allowed to move towards each other under mutual gravitational attraction. Their relative
velocity of approach at a separation distance r between them is
1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2 1/ 2
 (m1  m2 )   2G   r   2G 
(1)  2G r  (2)  r (m1  m2  (3)  2G(m m )  (4)  r m1m2 
     1 2   

17. (2)Let velocities of these masses at r distance from each other be v1 and v 2 respectively.
By conservation of momentum
m1v1  m2 v 2  0  m1v1  m2 v 2 … (i)
By conservation of energy change in P.E.=change in K.E.
Gm1 m 2 1 1 m12 v12 m 22 v 22 2 Gm1 m 2
 m1v12  m 2 v 22    …(ii)
r 2 2 m1 m2 r

2 1 2 Gm 2 2 Gm 2
On solving equation (i) and (ii) v1  r(m  m ) and v 2  r(m  m )
1 2 1 2

2G
 vapp | v1 | | v2 | (m1  m2 )
r
18. A projectile is projected with velocity kve in vertically upward direction from the ground into
the space. ( ve is escape velocity and k  1) . If air resistance is considered to be negligible then the
maximum height from the centre of earth to which it can go, will be : (R = radius of earth)
R R R R
(1) (2) (3) (4) k  1
k2 1 k2 1 1 k2
18. (3)Kinetic energy = Potential energy
1 mgh 1 mgh
m (kv e ) 2  mk 2 2 gR  2
2 h  2 h  h  Rk
1 1
R R 1 k2

Height of Projectile from the earth’s surface = h

Rk 2 R
Height from the centre r  R  h  R  By solving r 
1 k2 1 k2
19. At some point the gravitational potential and also the gravitational field due to earth is zero. The
point is
(1)On earth’s surface (2)Below earth’s surface
(3)At a height Re from earth’s surface (4)At infinity
GM GM
19. (4) V  and I  V 0 and I  0 at r  
r r2
20. A body falls freely under gravity. Its speed is v when it has lost an amount U of the gravitational
energy. Then its mass is
Ug U2 2U
(1) (2) g (3) (4) 2 Ugv 2
v2 v2

2 1 2U
20. (3)U = Loss in gravitational energy = gain in K.E. So, U  2 mv  m 
v2
21. Assume earth to be complete sphere of radius R. If values of gravitational accelerations at a place
having latitude of 30° and at equator are g30 and g respectively. Then, g - g30 = ?.
3 2 2R 2R
(1)  R2 (2)  R (3) (4)
4 2 4
21.
2 2
(2) g ,  g  R 2 cos 2  Here, g 30  g  R cos 30 
o

2
 3 2 3
2 3 2
 g30  g  R    R    R 
 2   4  4
22. Assume that the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is 0.2 times the accelera-
tion due to gravity on the surface of the earth. If Re is the maximum range of a projectile on the
earth’s surface. What is the maximum range on the surface of the moon (Assume initial velocity of
projection to be constant)
(1) 0.2 Re (2) 0.5 Re (3) 2 Re (4) 5 Re
v02 sin 2
22. (4) Range of the projectile, R =
g

v02 1
  45o For R  Rmax  Rmax   Rmax   v0 and  are constants 
g g

Rm g e ge 1 R
     Rm  e  Rm  5 Re
Re gm 0.2 g e 0.2 0.2
23. If orbital period of a satellite is T, then its kinetic energy is proportional to
1 1 2 2
(1) (2) (3) (4)
T T3 T 3
T 3

GM 1
23. (4) Orbital speed v0 =  kinetic energy  v 2 
r r
2
1
2
 kinetic energy  T 3
and T 2  r 3  r  T 3 2
T3
24. The distance at which the magnitute of gravitational field intensity due to thin uniform ring of
mass M and radius R from the centre of the ring on its axis will be zero.
R R R 2R
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2 3 2 3
24. (1) Magnitude of gravitational field due to ring at distance x on axis of ring from center of ring.
GMx
I 3
...(1)
R 2
 x2 2

dI
For the intensity to be maximum 0
dx
  
d d  GMx  d  3
2 2 

dx
I
dx  2 3   0 
dx 
GM  x   R 2
 x  0
 
R  x 2 2  


d  3
2 2 

dx 
 x   R 2
 x    0  G M are constants 


 3 
3 3
  x     R2  x 2  2  2x    1  R2  x 2  2  0
1

 2 
3 3
  3x 2  R 2  x 2  2  R 2  x 2    R 2  x 2  2  0
1

 3x 2  R 2  x 2   1,  3x 2  R 2  x 2
1

R
 2x 2  R 2  x
2

***