The sun, moon and the stars have always fascinated the people.

Astronomy was known since Vedic times. After renaissance, Tycho

Brahe of Denmark, Johannes Kepler and then Galileo were the pioneers of science in Europe. The value of the acceleration due
to gravity was determined by Galileo. In the present day science, it was Issac Newton who made enoromous contribution to the
study of gravitation, its laws and applications. A study of gravitation will reveal the parallelism in the concepts of mechanics,
electrostatics and the magnetic effects of electricity.

Gravitation
1. Assuming that the orbit of the earth is circular, the
second law of Kepler can be proved from (a) − GM (b) − GM
r R
(a) the conservation of angular momentum
(b) the conservation of linear momentum (c) GM (d) GM
(c) the conservation of potential energy r r2
(d) the conservation of total energy 6. The gravitational potential energy due to the earth
2. According to Kepler's third law, the relation of a mass m kept at a height h from the ground is
between the period of rotation of the planet and GMm GMm
the line joining the planet to the sun is given by (a) − 2
(b) −
( R + h) ( R + h)
(a) T3 ∝ r2 (b) T2 ∝ r3
(c) T ∝ r (d) none of these GMm
(c) mgh (d)
( R + h )2
3. According to Newton, the force of attraction
between two bodies of masses m1 and m2 separated 7. The acceleration due to gravity of a mass m falling
by distance r between their centres of mass is from the height of 30 m is
GM GM
(a) − (b) −
R2 ( R + h )2

GM GM
mm (c) − (d)
(a) F = G 1 2 R R
r2 8. The gravitational field at a distance h from the
(b) If the force of attraction by B on A is positive, ground, where h << RE is in general
the force on B by A is negative. GME GME
mm
(c) The force of attraction F = − G 1 2 (a) g = (b) g =
RE ( RE + h )2
r2
due to m2 on m1 or due to m1 on m2  2h 
(c) g (d) g 1 −
(d) The forces are equal between m 1 and m 2  RE 
whatever may be relative magnitudes of m1
9. The gravitational field at distance r′ (< R) from the
and m2.
centre of the earth is
4. The gravitational field due to earth at a distance R (a) inversely proportional to r′
from the surface is given by (b) inversely proportional to r′ 2
GM GM GM (c) directly proportional to r′
(a) GM (b) (c) − (d) −
2 2 2
R2 (d) directly proportional to r′ 3.
R 4R 4R
5. Gravitational potential due to the earth at a 10. Gravitational field due to a shell of mass M is
distance r from the centre, assuming the earth is a (a) proportional to 1 for r > R
sphere and r > R, is r2

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 1 (b) the total field as well as the total potential are
(b) proportional to inside the shell
r′ 2 non-zero
(c) directly proportional to r′ inside shell (c) both the field as well as potential at O is zero
(d) none of these (d) none of these
11. Inside a shell, at a distance r (< R) the gravitational 16. The escape velocity of a rocket fired from the
potential is surface of the earth is
GM 2GME
(a) zero (b) − (a) 2gRE (b)
r RE
GM (c) gRE (d) none of these
(c) − (d) none of these
R
17. The point P where there is no field is
12. Match the following.
Column I Column II
A Uniform sphere P GM
The field is − at
(M = mass of the the surface R2
sphere)
B Uniform spherical Q The field is ∝ r′ the (a) at a distance AP = 2R
shell (M = mass of distance from the 1
(b) at a distance AP = PB
the shell) centre (r′ < R) 2
R The field is zero inside (c) at 3R, the mid-point of AB
(d) none of these
(a) A → P, Q; B → P, R (b) A → R; B → Q
(c) A → P, R; B → P, Q (d) A → R; B → R 18. In Q. 17, the minimum kinetic energy of the rocket
fired from the surface of A to reach the surface of
13. Four masses are kept at the four corners of a B is
square of side a as shown in the figure. The field
3 GM 2GM
at O is (a) (b)
5 R R
5 GM
(c) (d) gR
3 R
19. Assuming the earth is spherical and rotating about
the vertical axis, the acceleration due to gravity at
(a) zero
a latitude l is
{GM GM Gm Gm
(b) − 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
r r r r } (a) g
(c) g + mw2Rcos2l
(b) g – mw2Rcosl
(d) g – w2Rcos2l
2GM 2Gm
(c) − 2 + 2 (d) none of these 20. The orbital speed of a satellite close to the surface
r r
of the earth is
14. The potential at O due to the configuration of
(a) 2gRE (b) 2gRE
masses in Q. 13 is
(a) zero (c) gRE (d) 2gRE

(b) − {GM GM Gm Gm
r
+
r
+
r
+
r } where RE is the radius of the earth.
21. Assuming that a geostationary satellite is orbiting
(c) + {GM GM Gm Gm
r
+
r
+
r
+
r } round the earth in a circular path, mark the correct
statements
GM 2Gm (a) The period of rotation of the satellite is double
(d) 2 −
r r that of the earth.
15. If the position of the masses are rearranged, as (b) The period of rotation of the satellite is the
shown below same as that of the earth.
(c) The height of the satellite is very large from
the surface of the earth.
(d) The satellite is close to the earth.
22. If one performs an experiment inside a lift which
(a) the total field is zero but not the total potential is falling down freely,

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 (a) the acceleration felt is double that on the force GMm 1
surface of the earth. 7. (a) : Acceleration = =− ⋅
mass R2 m
(b) the same as on the surface of the earth. GM
(c) no acceleration due to gravity will be felt. ⇒ g=− because h << R, (R + h)  R.
R2
(d) more details are needed. GME
8. (b, d) : g = is valid for any distance h
23. What are the centripetal and centrifugal forces ( RE + h )2
when the earth is rotating about the sun? from the ground.
SOLUTIONS GME  2h 
1. (a) : Applying the law of conservation of angular When h << RE, gh = 2
= g 1 − 
 h   RE
momentum, Iw = constant i.e. mr2w is a constant at RE2 1 +
every instant. The angular velocity is a constant for  RE 
uniform circular motion. −2
 h  2h
Iw = mr2w is a constant because 1 +  1− when h << RE
 RE  RE
r 2 2π
⇒ r 2ω = = constant 9. (c) : One has to find the field at a point r′ from the
T centre. Applying Gauss theorem, the Gaussian surface
2
πr A encloses a sphere of radius r′.
That is = constant
T
As pr = area, the area covered per unit time is a
2

constant.
Note :
For uniform circular motion, r and w are constants
separately.
For elliptical motion, r2w is a constant. For large The gravitational field is only due to the sphere of
distances from the sun, which is at one of the foci as M 4
r increases, w decreases. When the earth is near the radius r′ i.e. a mass M ′ = ⋅ πr ′ 3
4 3 3
sun, r is very much less and w is increasing so that πR
3
r2w = constant. M 1
2. (b) : According to Newton's law, for the equilibrium The gravitational field = − G  3 r ′ 3  ⋅ 2
R  r′
of the rotating planet,
GM
− GMm ⇒ Gravitational field = −  3  r ′
+ mω 2 r = 0 ⇒ ω 2 r 3 = constant. R 
r2

( )2π 2 3 This is directly proportional to r′.

⇒ r = constant or T 2 ∝ r 3 .
T
(This is true for elliptical path also).
3. (c, d) : Gravitational force is one of attraction. It is
always negative and mutual. It is the same whether
the body A is attracted by B(assuming A is free to
move and B is fixed) or whether B is attracted by A
where A is fixed and B is free to move.
Gravitational force is a vector but the sign of the
force is decided by the nature of the force. When a
number of bodies are taken, to find the resultant,
directions have to be taken and superposed.
4. (c) : Field is the force on unit mass due to the
gravitation of the earth. The gravitational field is also
negative as the force is negative.
5. (a)
6. (b) : mgh is valid only for very small distances.
Otherwise, the potential energy of a mass m
GM .m
=−
( R + h)
Potential energy of a mass m = Potential × mass.
10. (a) : The Gaussian surface enclosed the whole shell
of mass M at a distance r from the centre (r > R)
GM
Therefore gravitational field = −
r2
But inside the shell, the mass enclosed is zero.
Therefore the field is zero.
11. (c) : The gravitational potential is the work done
in bringing unit mass up to the given point. As there
is no field inside, the gravitational potential inside
GM
the shell is equal to − , the work done up to the
R
surface of the shell only.
12. (a) : A → P, Q; B → P, R
13. (a) : The force is attraction. It is negative. But the
unit mass at O is pulled equally by the masses M
placed at opposite corners. Their forces are in opposite
directions. Similarly the forces of the masses m and
m are also equal and pulling in opposite directions.
Therefore the field is zero.

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14. (b) : Potentials and potential energies have no acceleration along BC. B is rotating on the orbit of the
direction. They are scalars. Gravitational potential and small circle, with O′ as the centre. The centrifugal force
potential energies are also negative. The total potential along BC = mw2rcosl.
is therefore
−{ GM GM Gm Gm
r
+
r
+
r
+
r}
15. (b) : Neither the total field nor total potential at O
is zero.
16. (a,b) : If the rocket has a mass m, its potential
GME m
energy at the surface of the earth = −
RE But r = Rcosl i.e., centrifugal force on the body along
If the rocket has to escape from the earth, the minimum BC = mw2Rcos2l.
kinetic energy should at least cancel this potential \ Effective acceleration due to the mass being on the
energy. latitude l is
 i.e. Minimum kinetic energy − GMEm  g – g′ = g – w2Rcos2l.
 RE  GmME
 20. (c) : Force of gravitation = −
should be equal to zero, (the potential energy at infinity (RE + h)2
+ zero kinetic energy for just reaching infinity) If h is very small, force of gravitation or the centrifugal
1 2 GME m GmME
mvmin − =0 force = −
2 RE RE2
2GME GME The centrifugal force = mw2RE as RE + h ≈ RE only.
or v 2 = 2
or vescape =2 RE
RE RE2 GmME
2GME ∴ − + mω2 RE = 0
∴ vescape = 2 gRE or RE2
RE
v2 mv 2 GmME
17. (a, b) : At the neutral point P, the forces due to A But ω2 = 2 ⇒ = = mg
and B are equal. RE RE RE2
v = gRE
21. (b, c) : The period of rotation of the satellite is the
same as that of the earth. As it is rotating with the same
speed, it will appear to be stationary.
The height of satellite is very large, about 40,000 km
GMm G(4 Mm) above the ground.
− =−
r12 (6R − r1)2 22. (c) : The pseudo acceleration, equal to g, will be
Solving r1, one gets r1 = 2R and r2 = 4R acting upwards, inside the lift. No acceleration will be
1 felt inside the lift.
i.e., AP = 2R, BP = 4R or AP = BP
2 GMm
18. (a) : The kinetic energy of the rocket + total potential 23. The force acting towards the centre, − is the
centripetal force. R2
energy at the surface of A = Potential energy at the
neutral point mv 2
+ mw2R, that is + is acting outwards. This force
1 2 GMm G4 Mm GMm GMm R
⇒ mvmin − − =− − acting away from the centre is the centrifugal force.
2 R 5R 2R R
GMm mv 2
1 2 GM 4GM 3 GM − + =0
⇒ vmin = + − R2 R
2 R 5R 2 R
3GM
⇒ v=
5R
[For a rocket to be sent in space, the potential energy
accounted for is only the P.E. of the earth. The final
potential energy in space is zero.]
19. (d) : Along BO, the effective acceleration due to
These two forces keep the rotating earth in its orbit.
gravity is, g towards O – the component of centrifugal mm

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