DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

Secunderabad
NACHARAM/ MAHENDRA HILLS

SUBJECT : PHYSICS NOTES : CHAPTER 3: GRAVITATION CLASS: IX

The phenomenon of attraction between different bodies in the universe is called gravitation.

-The force exerted by the earth is called gravity.

NOTE:The force that causes acceleration and keeps the object moving along the circular path is called
centripetal force.
Eg. The motion of the moon around the earth.

Newton’s universal law of gravitation:

According to the law, every body in the universe attracts every other body with a force which is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of distance between them.

-The force act along the line joining the centre of two bodies.

Derivation:

Consider two bodies A and B of masses m1 and m2 respectively. Let ‘d’ be the distance between the center of
two bodies.

Let ‘F’ be the force of attraction between them.

Then according to Newton’s universal law of gravitation, force is directly proportional to the product of masses
i.e. F α m1m2-----------1

∵ F α 1/d2--------------2
Combining Equ 1 & 2, we get

F α m1m2/d2

F = Gm1m2/d2

G=F d2/ m1m2 (G is universal gravitational constant)

Universal Gravitational constant: It is equal to the force of attraction acting between two bodies each of unit
mass whose centers are placed at unit distance apart.

S.I unit:- G =F d2/ m1m2=Nm2/kg2

Note: Value of G was found out by Henry Cavendish by using a sensitive balance.

G=6.673 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2

# Newton’s law of gravitation is also known as inverse square law. The force of attraction (F) between two bodies
as it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between (d) between them.

Importance of Universal law of gravitation:

1. It is the force that binds us to the earth.

2. The motion of planets around the sun.
 3. Atmosphere ear the surface of the earth.
4. Formation of tides due to the moon and the sun.

Numerical:

1. Calculate the gravitational force between two bodies A & B having mass of 50 kg each situated at a
distance of 1m each other.
F=? m1=m2=50kgd=1m

F = Gm1m2/d2 = 6.673 x 10-11x 50 x 50 = 1.67x10-7N

2. How does the force of gravitation between two objects change when the distance between them is
reduced to half?
F = Gm1m2/d2 ; d=d/2

F = Gm1m2 = 4Gm1m2
(d/2)2 d2
Force increases by 4 times.
3. What happens to the force between two objects if
a) The mass of one of the object is doubled.
b) Distance between the objects is doubled and tripled.
c) Mass of both the objects is doubled.

a)m1=2m1 ; m2=m2
 F = Gm1m2/d2 =G. 2m1. m2
d2
F= 2 Gm1m2 Force increases by 2 times.
2
d

b) m1=m1 ; m2=m2 ; d=2d ; d=3d

F= Gm1m2 = Gm1m2 Force decreases by 4 times.

(2d)2 4d2
F= Gm1m2 = Gm1m2 Force decreases by 9 times as F α 1/d2
(3d)2 9d2

c) m1=2m1 ; m2=2m2

F = Gm1m2/d2 =G. 2m1. 2m2 = 4.Gm1m2 Force increases by 4 times

d2 d2

H.W. WRITE EXAMPLE 10.1 AND BLUE BOX QUESTIONS FROM PG:134 IN TEXT BOOK

Free fall: Whenever objects fall towards the earth only under the force of gravity (with no other forces acting on
it) we say the objects are in state of free fall.

Accelertion due to gravity:The uniform acceleration produced in a body when it falls freely under the effect of
gravity is known as acceleration due to gravity.

Relation between ‘g’ and ‘G’:

Let ‘M’ be the mass of the earth and radius be ‘R 1’ with center ‘o’. Suppose a body of mass ‘m’ be placed on the
surface of the earth where acceleration due to gravity is ‘g’.

Let ‘F’ be the force of attraction between the body and the earth.

According to Newton’s lawof gravitation,

F = Gm1m2/d2 ------------1

According to Newton’s 2nd law,

F=ma=mg----------------------------2

By substituting equ 2 in equ 1

mg=GMm/R2

g=GM/R2

Note: Value of ‘g’ is independent of the mass, shape and size of the body but depends upon the mass and radius
of earth(planet).

H.W.DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ‘G’ AND ‘g’

*Calculation of ‘g’:

We know, acceleration due to gravity g=GM/R2

Where G=6.673 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2

M=mass of the earth=6x1024 kg

R=radius of the earth=6.4x106 m

By substituting we get , g=6.673 x 10-11x6x1024 = 9.8m/s2 or 10m/s2

6.4x106 x6.4x106

H.W.WRITE Q NO:7,8,9,10,11 FROM PG:144 ON THE WHITE PAGE IN C.W.

Variation of acceleration due to gravity (g):

1. The value of ‘g’ increases as we go from equator to the poles (gα1/R 2)

2. The value of ‘g’ decreases with height (altitude) (gα1/R 2)
3. The value of ‘g’ is maximum at earth’s surface and decreases with depth and becomes zero at the center of
the earth.

Differentiate between ‘g’ and ’G’:

Re>Rp g’<g
 Body A (at the surface of the earth)-g

Body B (deep inside the surface of earth)-g’

g’< g

²Calculate the ‘g’ on the surface of the moon (Mm=7.4x1022kg) radius of the moon Rm=1.74x106m

g=Gm/R2
=6.67x10-11x7.4x1022

1.74x106x1.74x106

=1.63m/s2

#Compare the value of ‘g’ on the moon with that of the earth.
We know that gm=1.63 m/s2
ge=9.8 m/s2
gmoon =1.63/9.8=1/6 gearth

The gravity on the moon is 1/6th of the earth.

Equation for freely falling bodies:-

1.v=u+at

2.h=ut+1/2 gt2
3. v2-u2=2gh

NOTE: When a body is thrown vertically upwards v=0, g is negative

When a body is freely falling down u=0 , g is positive

Time taken by the body to reach the highest point is equal to the time taken to fall down from the above height.

H.W COMPLETE BLUE BOX QUESTIONS PG:136 ON THE WHITE PAGE IN C.W.

1. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49m/s. Calculate a) maximum height to which it raises

b) the total time taken to return to the surface of the earth (g=9.8 m/s2)

u=49m/s; v=o; g=9.8 m/s2

v=u+gt

0=49-9.8xt

T=49/9.8=490/98=5sec

Total time=5+5=10sec

h=? v2-u2=2gh

0-49x49=2x-9.8xh

h=-49x490 =122.5m
2. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6m. Calculate its final velocity just before touching the
ground.

H=19.6m ; v? ; u=o ; g=9.8 m/s2

v2-u2=2gh

v2 =2x9.8x19.6

v2=19.6x19.6

v=19.6 m/s

3.A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower 100m high and at the same time another stone
is projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 25m/s. Calculate when and
where both the stones meet (take g=10 m/s2)

Let ‘x’ be the height where both the stones meet

stone A is falling:

U=0 ; h= 100-x ;g=10 m/s2

h=ut+1/2 gt2

100-x = 0 + 1/2 x 10t2

100-x = 5 t2 1

Stone B vertically thrown up:

U=25m/s ; v=0 ; g=-10 m/s2; h=x

h=ut+1/2 gt2

x=25t+1/2 x (-10) t2=25t-5 t2 2

By substituting ‘x’ in equ 1

100-(25t-5 t2)= 5 t2

100-25t+5 t2- 5 t2=0

100=25t

100/25=t t=4 sec

X = 25x4-5x16=100-80=20m above the ground

H.W COMPLETE Q.N0.15 FROM PG:144

AND FROM PG:136 EXAMPLE 10.2 & 10.3 ON THE WHITE PAGE IN C.W.

4. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower after 6 sec. Find a)velocity with which it was thrown up
b) the maximum height it reaches and
c) its position after 4 sec.
Total time=6 sec
 Time taken by the ball to reach the highest point=time taken to come down
3 sec=to go up to the highest point
a) V=0; g=-9.8 m/s2 t=3sec
V=u+gt
0=u-9.8x3
-u=-29.4m/s
b)h=?

h=ut+1/2 gt2=29.4x4+1/2(-9.8)3

=44.1m

c)After 4sec; h=ut+1/2 gt2=29.4x4+1/2(-9.8)16

=117.6-78.4=39.2m

Position of the ball after 4 sec from the top=44.1-39.2=4.9m

Mass: It is the amount of matter contained in a body. It is a scalar quantity. It is a constant everywhere.

S.I. unit is kg C.G.S unit is gm

Weight: Weight is the amount of gravitational pull acting on an object. It is a vector quantity. It varies from place
to place.

S.I. unit is newton (N)

C.G.S. unit id dyne; W=mxg

 H.W.WRITE ON WHITE PG OF C.W The differences between weight and mass

To prove that Wm=1/6WE

Let ‘M’ be the mass of the object on the earth. It’s weight be W E, mass of the earth be ME and radius of the earth
be RE

By using Newton’s law of gravitation, WE=GMEm/RE2 1

Similarly, mass of the object on the moon be m, its weight on the moon be W m.

Mass of the moon be Mm and radius of the moon be Rm.

Using Newton’s law of gravitation, Wm=GMmm/Rm2 2

Dividing 2 by 1 we get

Wm/ WE = GMmm/Rm2 = GMmm x RE2

GMEm/RE2 Rm 2 GMEm

We know that ME=100Mm ; RE =4 Rm

By substituting the values we get:
Wm = 1
WE 6

Wm=1/6 WE
 H.W.COMPLETE THE EXAMPLE 10.4 AND 10.5 AND BLUE BOX QUESTIONS OF PG:138 FROM TEXT BOOK ON
WHITE PG OF C.W

Numerical:

1. The mass of an object is 60 kg on the surface of the earth. What would be its weight when measured on the
surface of the moon? What would be its mass on the moon?( g=10 m/s2)

Mass on earth =60kg

Mass on moon=60kg …as mass is constant

Weight on moon = weight on earth/6 =mg/6=600/6=100N

2. An object weighs 294N on the earth. a)what would be its mass on the moon? B) what is ‘g’ of the
moon?

Weight earth = 294N

Mass earth = Wearth/gearth =294/9.8 = 2940/98 = 30kg

Wmoon = 294/6 = 49N

gmoon = Wmoon/Mmoon=49/30=1.633m/s

Thrust and Pressure:

The force acting on an object perpendicular to the surface is called ‘thrust’.

# S.I unit is N(newton)

The thrust per unit area is called pressure.

# S.I unit is pascal.

Pressure = Thrust/area

# S.I unit is N/m2 or Pascal

Effects of pressure:

Pressure α thrust; pressure α 1/area

- Nails and pins have pointed end as P α 1/A

- Heavy trucks are fitted with six or eight wheels

Note: 1cm2 = 10-4 m2

 ∵ 1 cm=1/100 m

1 cm2= 1 x 1 m2 = 10-4 m2
100 100

1cm3=10-6 m3

Numerical:
*A block of wood is kept on a table of mass 2 kg and its dimensions 30cmx20cmx10cm. Find the
pressure exerted by the wooden block on the table top if it is made to lie on the table top with its
side of dimensions a)30cmx20cm and b)30cmx10cm

Is the pressure equal in both the cases? What conclusions can be drawn from this example?
( g=10 m/s2).
Mass = 2kg ; g=10m/s2
W=mg=20N thrust =20N
a) A=30cm x 20 cm =600cm2=600x10-4m2
P=thrust/area=20/600x10-4 = 0.03x104 Pa=333.33Pa
b) A=30cmx10cm=300 cm2 = 300 x 10-4 m2
P=T/A=20/300x10-4 = 0.06x104 Pa
= 666.67Pa
Pressure in B > Pressure in A
H.W

1.COMPLETE THE EXAMPLE 10.6 from PG:139 FROM TEXT BOOK ON WHITE PG OF C.W

2. A 5kg wooden block is kept on a table top. Its dimensions are 30cmx20cmx5cm. Find the pressure exerted by
the wooden block on the table top if it is made to be on the dimensions a) 30cmx20cm b)30cmx5cm(g=10
m/s2).

Fluid: Any substance which has a fixed shape and has the ability to flow is called a fluid.
Note:

#Pressure exerted by a liquid at a point inside is directly proportional to its depth, density and
acceleration due to gravity.

# All points at the same depth in a liquid are under the same pressure.

# Pressure at a point due to the liquid on the surface of the liquid is zero as height is zero, (hρg=0)

Buoyant force:-

The upward force acting on an object when partly or wholly immersed in a fluid is called buoyant
force or upthrust and the tendency of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object placed in it is
called buoyancy.

Characteristic properties of buoyant force:

- Volume of the body submerged in the fluid

- The density of the fluid in which the body is submerged.

- Acceleration due to gravity.

- Temperature of the fluid.

Archimedes principle: When a body is partially or wholly immersed in a fluid, it experiences an

upthrust, which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the immersed part of the body.

Buoyant force = weight of the fluid displaced by the object

B.f =W

B.f=mg (since d=m/v, m=dxv)

B.f = vρg (since ρ—rho is density)

Applications of Archimedes principle:

- Archimedes principle is used in designing ships and submarines.

- Used to determine the relative density of a substance.
- Lactometers and hydrometers are based on Archimedes principle.

Numerical:

1. A body weighs 500gf in air and 300 gf when completely immersed in water. Find a) apparent loss
in the weight of the body b) the upthrust on the body c) volume of the body

Weight of the body in air W1=500gf

Weight of the body in water W2=300gf

a) loss in weight of the body = W1 - W2 =500-300=200gf

b) upthrust = loss in weight of the body =200gf

c) volume of the body = volume of the liquid displaced = 200cm 3

2. Fishes weigh less in water than in air. Why?

A. Because fishes experience an up thrust equal to the weight of the water displaced by them.

Floatation: When a body is immersed in a liquid, two forces act on the body

1. The weight of the body acts vertically downwards (due to force of gravity W)
2. The upthrust of the liquid acts vertically upwards (F)

Case I: When the weight of the body is greater than the buoyant force.

i.e, W>F then the body will sink in the liquid

or if the density of the object is more than the density of the liquid, the object will sink.

Case 2: When the weight of the body is equal to the buoyant force i.e. W=F, then the body will float
just below the surface of the liquid. The body will experience weightless condition.

Or If the density of the object is equal to the density of the liquid then the object will float.
Case 3: When the weight of the body is less than the buoyant force i.e. W<F, then the body will
float partially above the surface of the liquid.

Or the body will float partially above the surface of the liquid if its density is less than the
density of the liquid.

Note: 1.An iceberg floats on water as density of ice is 0.92g/cm 3and that of water is 1gm/cm3.So
1/10th of the iceberg remains above the water where 9/10th portion is inside the water.

2.An iron ship does not sink because ship is made hollow from inside which reduces the
average density of ship than that of water. Therefore, even when a small part of a ship is
submerged, the weight of the water displaced becomes equal to the weight of the entire ship.

Density: It is defined as mass per unit volume of a substance.

Density = mass / volume.
S I unit is kg/m3
c.g.s. unit is g/cm3
 Relative density: It is defined as the ratio of density of a substance to the density of water.
Relative density = Density of a substance/density of water
It has no units

Numericals:

1.The density of turpentine is 840kg/m3 . Find its relative density in S.I system

Solution: Density of turpentine = 840kg/m3

Density of water = 1000 kg/m3

Relative density = density of substance/density of water

= 840/1000 = 0.84

2.The relative density of silver is 10.8. Calculate its density in S.I system if the density of water is
1000kg/m3.

Solution: Relative density = density of substance/density of water

Density of substance = relative density x density of water

=10.8 x 1000 = 10800kg/m3

3.The volume of 50g of substance is 20cm3 . If the density of water is 1g/cm3, will the substance
float or sink?

Solution: Mass of substance = 50g.

Volume of the substance = 20cm3

Density = mass/volume = 50/20 = 2.5g/cm3

2.5g/cm3 > 1g/cm3

So object will sink

4.The volume of 500g sealed packet is 350cm3. Will the packet float or sink. What will be the mass
of water displaced by it?

Solution: Mass of the packet = 500g

Volume of the packet = 350cm3

Density =mass/volume = 500/350 = 1.42 g/cm3

1.42g/ cm3> 1gm/ cm3 , so the object will sink

Mass of the water displaced by it = density of the water displaced x volume of the object

= 1x350 = 350g
5.A plastic ball of mass 500g has a volume of 450 cm3 . Will the bottle sink or float? Also find mass
of water displaced by the bottle.

Solution: Mass of bottle = 500g

Volume of bottle = 450 cm3

Density = mass /volume = 500/450 = 1.1g/ cm3

1.1g/ cm3>1g/ cm3

Therefore the bottle with mass 500g and volume 450 cm3 will sink

Mass = density of water x volume of object = 1 x 450 = 450g

6. The relative density of two objects X and Y are 2.5 and 0.9 respectively; find their densities and
state whether they float or sink?

Solution: The relative density = density of substance/density of water

Relative density of X = 2.5

2.5 = density of substance X/ 1000

So density of substance X = 2.5 x1000 = 2500kg/m3

2500kg/m3> 1000kg/m3, So object X will sink.

Relative density of Y = 0.9

0.9 = density of substance Y/1000

So density of substance Y = 0.9 x 1000 = 900kg/ m3

900kg/ m3 < 1000kg/ m3 . So Y will float.

7) An object weighs 60N in air and displaces 1.5litres of water when immersed into a beaker. What
is its weight in water?

Solution: Weight in air = 60N

Weight in water =?

Buoyant force = Weight in air – weight in water

And B.f. = vρg

Vρg = 60N – Weight in water

Volume of the displaced water = 1.5 lit = 1.5x10-3 m3

Density of water = 1000kg/ m3

g = 10m/s2

1.5x10-3 x 103 x 10 = 60N – weight in water

15N = 60N – weight in water

Weight in water = 60N – 50N = 45N

Weight in water = 45N

HOMEWORK Pg:142, blue box questions Pg:145 exercise questions

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Chapter completed