Chapter-10

Gravitation

NCERT EXERCISES
1. How does the force of gravitation between two object change when the distance between them is
reduced to half ?
Gm 1 m 2
F= 2
Ans. Force of gravitation, r
2. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does
not fall faster than a light object ?
Ans. It is true that gravitational force acts on all object is proportion to their masses. But a heavy object does
Force
acceleration=
not fall faster than a light object. This is because of the reason that mass
As force  mass, therefore, acceleration is constant for a body of any mass.
3. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the Earth and a 1 kg object on its surface
? (Mass of the Earth is 6 × 1024 kg and radius of the Earth is 6.4 × 106 m.)
Ans. F = ?, m = 1 kg, M = 6 × 1024 kg, R = 6.4 × 106 m, G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
−11 24
GMm F= (6 .67×10 )×6×10 ×1 =9 . 8 N
F= 2
As R , (6 . 4×106 )2
4. The Earth and the Moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the Earth attract
the Moon with a force that is grater or smaller or the same as the force with which the Moon
attracts the Earth ? Why ?
Ans. The Earth attracts the Moon with a force which is same as the force with which the Moon attracts the
Earth. This is because as per Newton’s third law of motion, forces of action and reaction are always
equal and opposite. The force exerted by Earth on Moon is equal and opposite to the force exerted by the
Moon on Earth.
5. If the moon attracts the Earth, why does the Earth not move towards the Moon ?
Ans. The force exerted by the Earth on Moon changes the path of Moon from straight line to circular path.
The Moon attracts the Earth with the same force. But the Earth is too heavy to move towards the Moon.
Rather, we can show that distance moved by Earth towards the Moon is so small that it cannot be
detected.
6. What happens to the force between two objects, if
(i) The mass of one object is doubled ?
(ii) The distance between the objects is doubled and tripled ?
(iii) The masses of both objects are doubled ?
m1 m2
F∝ 2
Ans. As gravitational force between two objects, r therefore,
(i) When mass of one object is doubled, the force becomes twice.
(ii) When distance between the objects is doubled, force becomes (1/4) of its previous value. When
distance between the objects is tripled, the force becomes (1/9) of its previous value.
(iii) When masses of both objects are doubled, force becomes 4 times.
7. What is the importance of universal law of gravitation ?
Ans. Universal law of gravitation is important as it accounts for motion of planets around the Sun ; motion of
Moon and other artificial satellites around the Sun; motion of Moon and other artificial satellite around
 the Earth, snowfall and rainfall on Earth, flow of water in rivers and so many other phenomena.
8. What is the acceleration of free fall ?
Ans. All objects moving towards Earth on account of gravitational force of Earth on them are said to be in
free fall. This force produces a uniform acceleration in the object. This is the acceleration of free fall,
and is called acceleration due to gravity.
9. What do we call the gravitational force between the Earth and an object ?
Ans. The gravitational force between the Earth and an object is called Earth’s gravity.
10. Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the instruction of one of his friends. He hands over
the same when he meets him at the equator. Will the friend agree with the weight of gold bought ?
If not, why ? [Hint. The value of g is greater at the poles than at the equator.]
Ans. We have learnt that value of g is greater at the poles than at the equator, i.e., gp > ge.
As weight of gold at poles, Wp = m gp and weight of gold at equator, We = m ge.
Therefore, Wp > We or We > Wp
i.e., weight of gold at the equator will be less than the weight of gold at the poles. Obviously, the friend
at equator will not agree with the weight of gold bought at poles.
11. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball ?
Ans. A sheet of paper will fall slower than the one that is crumpled into a ball. This is because the air offers
resistance due to friction to the motion of the falling objects. The resistance offered by air to the sheet of
paper is more than the resistance offered by air to the paper ball because the paper sheet has larger area.
12. Gravitational force on the surface of the Moon is only 1/6 as strong as gravitational force on the
Earth. What is the weight in newtons of a 10 kg object on the Moon and on the Earth ?
Ans. Mass of object m = 10 kg
This is the same on Earth and Moon.
Weight of the object on Earth, We = m ge = 10 × 9.8 = 98 N
9.8
W m=mgm=10× =16 .3 N
Weight of the object on Moon, 6
13. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 m/s. Calculate
(i) The maximum height to which it rises,
(ii) The total time it takes to return to the surface of the Earth.
Ans. Here, u = 49 m/s ; h = ?
Total time = time of ascent + time of descent = t + t = 2t = ?
At maximum height; final velocity,  = 0
Acceleration = – g = – 9.8 m/s2
49×49
2 2 2 h= =122. 5 m
From υ −u =2 gh , 0−( 49) =2(−9 . 8)h or 2×9 . 8
49
t= =5 s
From υ=u+gt , 0=49−9.8 t or 9. 8
14. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its final velocity just before
touching the ground.
Ans. Here, u = 0, h = 19.6 m,  = ?, g = 9.8 m/s2
2 2
From υ −u =2 gh , υ 2−0=2×9 .8×19 .6
υ=√ 19.6×19 .6 =19.6 m/s
15. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 m/s. Taking g = 10 m/s 2, find the
maximum height reached by the stone. What is the net displacement and the total distance covered
by the stone ?
Ans. Here, u = 40 m/s, g = – 10 m/s2, h = ?,  = 0
 40×40
2 2 2 h= =80 m
From υ −u =2 gh , 0−(40 ) =2(−10 )h or 20
As final position of the stone coincides with its initial position, net displacement = 0.
Total distance covered by the stone = h + h = 2h = 2 × 80 m = 160 m
16. Calculate the force of gravitation between the Earth and the Sun, given that the mass of the Earth
= 6 × 1024 kg and mass of the Sum = 2 × 10 39 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 × 10 11
m.
Ans. Here, F = ?, m1 = 6 × 1024 kg, m2 = 2 × 1030 kg
r = 1.5 × 1011 m, G = 6.7 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
Gm 1 m 2 6 . 7×10−11×(6×1024 )×(2×1030 )
F= 11 2
=3 . 57×10 22 N
r2 = (1. 5×10 )
17. A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower 100 m high and at the same time another stone is
projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 25 m/s. Calculate when and where
the two stones will meet.
Ans. Here, h = 100 m.
Let the two stones meet after t second at appoint P which is at a
height x above the ground as shown in fig.
For stone 1
u = 0, h = (100 – x) m, a = g = 9.8 m/s2
1
From s = ut + 2 at2,
1
0+ ×9 . 8t 2 =4 . 9 t 2=4 . 9 t 2
(100 – x) = 2 ….(i)
For stone 2
u=25 m/s , h=x , a=−g=−9.8 m/s 2
1 1
s=ut + at 2 x=25 t+ (−9. 8 )t 2 =25 t−4 . 9 t 2
From 2 , 2 ……(ii)
100
100−x +x=25 t , t= =4 s
Add eqn. (i) and (ii), 25

From eqn. (i), 100−x=4 . 9( 4 )2=78 . 4

x=100−78 . 4=21 . 6 m
18. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower after 6s. find
(a) The velocity with which it was thrown up.
(b) The maximum height it reaches, and
(c) Its position after 4 s.
6
=3 s
Ans. Here, time of ascent = time of descent, t = 2
2
(a) u=?, υ=0 , a=−g=−9. 8 m/s
From υ=u+at , 0=u−9.8×3, u=29. 4 m/s
29 . 4×29 . 4
υ 2−u 2=as ; 0−(29. 4 )2=2(−9 . 8) h ; h= =44 .1
(b) From 2×9 .8 m
(c) Att = 3 s, ball is at maximum height. In the next 1 sec (= 4s – 3s)
1 1
s=ut + at 2 , + ×9 .8 (1 )2 =4 . 9 m
From 2 h=0 2 (below the top).