SOLVED OBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

Problem 1. Two thin rings each of radius R are coaxially placed at a distance R. The rings have a
uniform mass distribution and have mass m1 and m2 respectively. Then the work done in
moving a mass m from centre of one ring to that of the other is

Gm(m1  m 2 )( 2  1)
(a) zero (b)
2R

Gm( 2 )(m1  m 2 ) Gmm1 ( 2  1)

(c) (d) .
R m 2R
Ans. (b)
R R
 Potential at   Potential at  A B
Solution: VA      
 A due to A   A due to B  m1 m2
R
Gm1 Gm 2
 VA    and
R 2R

 Potential at   Potential at 
VB    
 B due to A   B due to B 
Gm 2 Gm1
 VB   
R 2R
Since WA B  m( VB  VA )

Gm(m1  m 2 )( 2  1)
 WA B  .
2R

Problem 2. 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, where R is radius of earth. The value of T2/T1 is
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 4 (d) 2.
Ans. (d)
Solution: The acceleration due to gravity at earth’s surface is g and at a distance R from earth’s
surface it is g/4. Hence
T1
 2 [ T  2 l / g ] .
T2

Problem 3. The kinetic energy of a satellite in an orbit close to the surface of the earth is E. What should
be its kinetic energy so that it escapes from the gravitational field of the earth ?
(a) 2E (b) 2E
(c) 2 2E (d) 4E.
Ans. (b)
Solution: Orbital velocity close to surface of earth is gR . So,
1
E m( gR ) 2
2
1
 E mgR
2
If the body is to escape, the velocity at surface of earth is 2gR . If E’ is the kinetic energy
corresponding to this velocity then
1
E'  m( 2gR ) 2
2
 E '  2E

Problem 4. A geo-stationary satellite orbits around the earth in a circular orbit of radius 36000 km. Then,
the time period of a spy satellite orbiting a few hundred kilometers above the earth’s surface
(Rearth=6400 km) will approximately be
1
(a) hr.. (b) 1 hr.
2
(c) 2 hr. (d) 4 hr.
Ans. (c)
Solution: We know that
T2  R 3 or (T2 / T1 )  (R 2 / R 1 ) 3 / 2
3/ 2
T2  6400 
or  
T1  36000 
3/ 2
 6400 
or T2     24  2 hr.
 36000 

Problem 5. If the radius of the earth were to shrink by one per cent, its mass remaining the same, the
value of g on the earth’s surface would
(a) increase by 0.5% (b) increase by 2%
(c) decrease by 0.5% (d) decrease by 2%.
Ans. (b)
GM
Solution: g
R2
dg dR
  2
g R
dR dg
 1%   2%
R g
Problem 6. A satellite is revolving round the earth in an orbit of radius r with time period T. If the satellite
is revolving round the earth in an orbit of radius r +  r (  r<< r) with time period T +  T
then,
T 3 r T 2 r
(a)  (b) 
T 2 r T 3 r
T r T r
(c)  (d)  .
T r T r
Ans. (a)
Solution: Since, T 2  kr 3
Differentiating the above equation
T r
 2 3
T r
T 3 r
 
T 2 r

Problem 7. Mass of moon is 1/81 times that of earth and its radius is 1/4 the earth’s radius. If escape
velocity at surface of earth is 11.2 km/sec, then its velue at surface of moon is:
(a) 0.14 km/sec (b) 0.5 km/sec
(c) 2.5 km/sec (d) 5 km/sec.
Ans. (c)
2GM 2GM m
Solution: Ve  11.2  , Vm 
R Rm

G  M  4 11.2  2
Vm    2.5km / sec .
81 R 9

Problem 8. A satellite of mass ms revolving in a circular orbit of radius rs round the earth of mass M has
a total energy E. Then its angular momentum will be
(a) ( 2Em s rs 2 )1 / 2 (b) (2Em s rs 2 )
(c) (2Em s rs )1/ 2 (d) (2Em s rs ) .
Ans. (a)
Solution: The velocity s of the satellite is given by
2
GMm s m s s
2

rs rs

 GM 
 s   
 …(i)
 rs 

1 2 1  GM 
K.E.  m s s  m s  
2 2  rs 
 GMm s
P.E.  
rs
 Total energy E=K.E. + P.E.
GMm s
 …(ii)
2rs
The angular momentum L is given by
L  m s s rs
1/ 2
 GM 
 m s   rs  (GMms 2 rs )1 / 2 …(iii)
 rs 
From eqs. (ii) and (iii), we get
2
L  (2 E m s rs )1/ 2 .

Problem 9. A straight rod of length extends L from x = a to x = L + a. The gravitational force exerted on
a point mass m at x = 0 if the mass per unit length of the rod is A  Bx 2 , is
 1 1  1 1 
(a) GmA    BL  (b) Gm A    BL 
aL a  a a  L 

 1 1   1 1  
(c) Gm A     BL  (d) Gm A     BL  .
 a  L a    a a  L  
Ans. (b)
Solution: Mass per unit length = A  Bx 2 . So the mass of length dx is dM  dx(A  Bx 2 )

Gm(dM)  A  Bx 2 
dF   Gm  
x2  x
2

a L
 1  Y
F  Gm  x2 
dx  A  Bx 2 
a  L
dx
a L m
A  X
  Gm  2  B  dx O x a a+L
a x 

A A 
 Gm    BL  .
 a aL 

Problem 10. An artificial satellite moving in a circular orbit around the earth has a total (K.E. + P.E.) = E0.
Its potential energy is
(a) – E0 (b) 1.5 E0
(c) 2 E0 (d) E0 .
Ans. (c)
Solution: Total energy = kinetic energy + Potential energy
1 GMm
E 0  mv 2  ...(i)
2 r
 mv 2 GMm
Further,  2
r r
1 2 GMm
or mv  ...(ii)
2 2r
1 2
Substiuting the value of mv in equation (i) from equation (ii), we get
2
GMm GMm GMm
E0   
2r r 2r
GMm
Therefore, P.E.    2E 0 .
r