DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, GANDHINAGAR

CLASS-IX
SCIENCE(PHYSICS) NOTES
CH 9 : GRAVITATION

Types of Forces
There are four fundamental forces in the universe and they are:
 Gravitational force  Electromagnetic force
 Strong nuclear force  Weak nuclear force
Gravitational force is the weakest force out of the four forces. When gravitational force is considered
for massive objects, such as the sun, or giant planets, the gravitational force is considered to be strong
as the masses of these objects are also large.
The Universal Law of Gravitation
Newton’s Law of gravitation states that every object in the universe attracts every other object by a
force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them.

G is called a universal constant because its value does not depend on the nature of intervening
medium or temperature or any other physical variable.
S.I. unit of G = Nm2/kg2
Value of G = 6.673 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2
Importance of universal law of gravitation
Universal law of gravitation successfully explains several phenomena like:
 the force that binds us to the earth.  the motion of moon around the earth.
 the motion of planets around the sun.  the tides due to the moon and the sun.
Freefall
When an object falls down towards the earth
under the gravitational force of earth alone, we
say the object is in free fall.

The velocity of a freely falling body changes and is said to be accelerated. This acceleration is called
acceleration due to gravity, denoted by ‘g’. Unit is m/s2.
The motion of objects under the influence of gravity ‘g’ does not depend on the mass of the body. All
objects small, big, heavy, light, hollow or solid fall at the same rate.
 If an object is just let, fall from a height then in that as u = 0 and a = g = 9.8 m/s-2.
If an object is projected vertically upward with an initial velocity u, then a = – g = – 9.8 ms-2 and the
object will go to a maximum height h where its final velocity becomes zero (i.e., v = 0).
Expression for small ‘g’
As F = ma (a = g) ...(i)
So F = mg ...(ii)
𝑴𝒎
Also, 𝑭 = 𝑮 …(iii)
𝒅𝟐
From (ii) and (iii),
𝑴𝒎
𝒎𝒈 = 𝑮 𝒅𝟐
𝑮𝑴
So, 𝒈 = 𝒅𝟐
M = Mass of the earth d = Distance between the object and the earth G = Gravitational constant
If the object is place on the earth then d =R (R = radius of the earth)
Factors affecting value of ‘g’.
Distance from centre of earth
Value of g decreases with the height above the surface of the earth.
Value of g decreases as we go down inside the surface of the earth
At centre of earth, g = 0.
Equations of motion when an object is falling freely towards the surface of earth
* 𝒗 = 𝒖 + 𝒈𝒕
𝟏
* 𝒉 = 𝒖𝒕 + 𝟐 𝒈𝒕𝟐
* 𝒗𝟐 − 𝒖𝟐 = 𝟐𝒈𝒉
Questions:
1. What is difference between gravity and gravitation?
2. The gravitational force between two objects is 100 N. How should the distance between two objects be
changed so that the force between them becomes 50 N?
3. Where is the value of ‘g’ maximum; at poles or at equator? Why?
4. Suppose gravity of earth suddenly becomes zero, then in which direction will the moon begin to move
if no other celestial body affect it? Why?
5. What happens to the magnitude of the force of gravitation between two objects if mass of both the
objects as well as distance between them is doubled? (Show calculation)
6. MCQs.
6.1 The earth attracts the moon with a force F. The moon will attract the earth with a force
(a) F/2 (b) F/4 (c) 2F (d) F
6.2 The gravitational force between two iron balls is 4N. If the distance between the balls is reduced to
half, the gravitational force between the balls will be
(a) ½ N (b) 2 N (c) 4 N (d) 16 N
6.3 “An apple falls from its tree onto the ground”. What does it tell about the nature of gravitational force?
(a) It is a repulsive force, which acts at greater heights.
(b) It is a repulsive force, which is independent of height.
(c) It is an attractive force, which acts at greater heights
(d) It is an attractive force, which is independent of height.
6.4 The image shows two objects of mass, m1 and m2 separated by distance, r. If m1 is 10 kg, m2 is 100
 kg, and r is 10 m, what is the amount of gravitational force, F between them? (Use the value of G as
6.673 x 10-11m3 kg-1 s-2)

(a) 6.673 x 10-9 N (b) 6.673 x 10-12 N

(c) 6.673 x 10-11 N (d) 6.673 x 10-10 N

Mass and Weight

Mass:
The amount of matter present in a substance is called its mass. It is intrinsic property of matter.
S.I. unit of mass is kg.
Mass is indicated M or m.
* Mass is a scalar quantity.
* The mass of a body remains same.
* The mass can be measured with the help of beam balance.
* The mass of an object is independent of acceleration due to gravitational force.
Weight:
The weight of an object is equal to the force with which the object is attracted towards the earth.
Or
The weight of an object on earth is equal to the gravitational force exerted by earth on that object.
S.I. unit of weight is N (newton)
Weight is denoted by W.
* Weight is vector quantity.
* The weight of an object is directly proportional to its mass.
* The weight of an object varies from place to place.
* Weight is measured with spring balance.
Weight of an object at poles and at equator.
At poles, gp is maximum, so weight is maximum
At equator, ge is minimum, so weight is minimum
Thrust and Pressure
Thrust:
Force acting normally on the surface is known as thrust.
Thrust is vector quantity with unit newton (N)
Pressure:
Thrust acting on unit area is called the pressure.
𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 (𝐹)
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑃) = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝐴)
𝑭
𝑷= 𝑨
Units: Pa (pascal), bar, millibar, atm, torr, Nm-2
1 Pa = 1 Nm-2.
1 bar = 105 Nm-2.
1millibar = 102 Nm-2.
1 atm = 101.3 k Pa = 1.013 bar = 1013 millibar
 Pressure in Fluids:
All liquids and gases are fluids. A fluid contained in a vessel exerts pressure at all points of the vessel
and in all directions.
Examples:
* The base of high buildings is made wider so that weight of walls act over a large surface area and
pressure is less.
* School bags are having broad straps so that the weight of school bags fall over a larger area of the
shoulder and produce less pressure and becomes less painful.
* The blades of knives are made sharp so very small surface area and on applying force, it produces
large pressure and cuts the object easily.
Buoyancy
The upward force experienced by an object when it is immersed into a fluid is called force of
buoyancy. It acts in upward direction and it depends on the density of the fluid.

* Force of gravitational attraction of the earth on the surface of the object ≤ buoyant force exerted by
fluid on the surface of the object.
Result : The object floats.
* Force of gravitational attraction of the earth on the surface of the object > buoyant force exerted by
fluid on the surface of the object.
Result : The object sinks.
That is why, allpin sinks and boat/ship floats on the surface of water. (Archimedes’ principle)
Archimedes’ Principle
When a body is immersed fully or partially in a fluid, it experiences an upward force that is equal to
the weight of the fluid displaced by it.
Applications of Archimedes’ Principle:
* It is used in determining relative density of substances.
* It is used in designing ships and submarines.
* Hydrometers and lactometers are made on this principle.
Questions:
7. Can a body have mass but no weight? Explain.
8. List the use of following devices based on Archimedes’ Principle.
(i) Lactometer (ii) Hydrometer
9. Why are sleepers used below the rails?
10. Dams are usually thicker at the bottom. Why?
11. Why is it easier to swim in sea water than fresh water?
12. Mark the direction of weight of the body and
upthrust acting on it in the given diagram:

13 State two factors on which magnitude of buoyant force acting on a body immersed in a fluid depends.
Read the paragraph/ case/situation/source carefully.
14. On an expedition to space, Gulliver went to another planet. It was another planet where life survived. It
was two times heavier than the earth. Its radius was three times the radius of the earth. He enjoyed his
stay in this new world.
 Answer the following based on your understanding of the context.
14.1 What is the value of ‘G’ on this planet in S.I. unit?
14.2 Find the ratio ‘g’ on this planet to ‘g’ on earth.
14.3 On what factors, does gravitational force exerted by a planet on a body depend?
15. The following table shows the weights(W) of objects of equal volume immerses in water. Observe the
table and answer the questions that follow: ( g = 9.8 m s-2, density of water 1000 kg m-3)

OBJECT WEIGHT (N)

A 10
B 15
C 20
D 25
15.1 On which object is the maximum upthrust exerted by water?
15.2 If object C floats in water (while completely immersed in it), what is the upthrust acting on it?
15.3 State Archimedes’ Principle.
16. MCQs:
16.1 Why does a ship made of steel floats, while a slab of steel sinks in water?
(a)Ship has lower density than that of a slab of steel.
(b)Ship has lower mass than that of a slab of steel.
(c) Ship has greater volume than that of a slab of steel.
(d) Ship has thinner surface than that of a slab of steel
16.2 What is true for thrust and pressure?
(a)Pressure varies with area, while thrust remains constant.
(b)Thrust varies with area, while pressure remains constant.
(c) Magnitude of thrust is always greater than that of pressure.
(d) Magnitude of pressure is always greater than that of thrust