Force

A pull or push which changes or tends to change the position

(rest or motion), the direction or the shape and size of a body.
Key points to remember
Learning Objectives Syllabus
After completing the study of this unit, students • Gravitation
will be able to: • Newton’s law of gravitation
• Introduce gravitational force and state and • Gravity and gravitational field
prove Newton’s law of gravitation • Effects of gravity
• Introduce gravity, gravitational field and • Acceleration due to gravity
acceleration due to gravity • Feather and coin experiment
• Differentiate between gravity and • Mass and weight
acceleration due to gravity • Free fall and weightlessness
• Differentiate between mass and weight • Simple numerical problems
• Introduce free fall and weightlessness and
differentiate between them
 Day 1
Gravitation/Gravitational Force
 Beliefs
 Geocentric theory: astrologists believed that the earth is found at the center of the universe
and all the heavenly bodies revolve around the earth (before 16 th century)
 Heliocentric theory: the sun at the center of the universe (modified geocentric theory)

 All the planets and satellites revolve around the sun, why?
 was well explained by Newton (in 1687). He mentioned about the force, gravitational force
(force of attraction between heavenly bodies and the sun) which make them revolve around
the sun.
 He also mentioned other effects of gravitational force like; an object dropped from a height falls
towards the earth, planets revolve around the sun, moon revolves around the earth, etc.
 To grasp all these examples, Sir Isaac Newton postulated a famous law of gravitation in 1687.
 Thus, Gravitational force can be defined as the force of attraction between any two
bodies due to their masses. It’s SI unit is Newton (N).
Contd…
 Important things to be remembered:
 The force of gravitation is always the force of attraction. It is never repulsive.
 The gravitational force between the earth and the apple is very weak due to less mass of the
apple. Due to less mass of the apple it cannot produce noticeable acceleration in the earth
but the earth having more mass produces noticeable acceleration in the apple. Thus, we see
apple falling towards the earth but never see earth moving towards apple.
 The effect of gravitational force is more in liquid than in solid. Because the molecules of the
liquid are loosely packed with less intermolecular force of attraction. So, tides occur in the
sea and ocean due to the force of attraction of the sun and the earth as well as the force of
attraction of the earth and the moon.
Newton’s law of gravitation
 “Everybody in the universe attracts another body towards itself with a force which is
directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the
square of distance between their centers”
 Mathematically, F  Mm & F  1/d2
 Where F = gravitational force, M & m = masses of two bodies, d = distance between them

 If so then why aren’t we people or the objects around us attracting towards each other?
 Recall the law
 Gravitational force of attraction is directly proportional to the product of masses, but in comparison to
the heavy mass of the heavenly bodies, we as well as the objects around us have very less/negligible
mass making negligible force of attraction. So, the effect cannot be seen. Where F = gravitational
force, M & m = masses of two bodies, d = distance between them
 This law is also called Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation because this law holds true or is
applicable for all the objects in this universe whether the objects are terrestrial or celestial.
Consequences of
gravitational force
 Newton has explained successfully several phenomena on the basis of gravitational
forces. Some of them are mentioned below:
 Due to the gravitational force of the earth, all terrestrial objects are bounded on it and the
objects thrown upwards return to the earth’s surface.
 The earth holds the atmosphere around it.
 Responsible for rainfall, snowfall and flowing of water in rivers.
 Existence of solar system and constellations.
 Revolution of planets around the sun.
 Revolution of natural satellites around planets.
 Formation of tides in seas and oceans (due to the combined effect of gravitational force
between the earth, the sun and the moon)
Application of Newton’s law
of gravitation
 This law helps us
 to determine the mass of the earth and other heavenly bodies.
 To calculate the distance between any two heavenly bodies such as earth and moon, sun
and earth, etc.
 In discovering new planets, stars and other heavenly bodies.
 Solve the following questions
1. Define gravitational force.
2. When the apple falls, does the apple also attract the earth?
3. Write any two consequences of gravitational force.
4. State Newton’s Universal law of gravitation.
5. What force is keeping the moon and other planets in their own orbit?
6. Why does the moon not fall straight down onto the earth?

Thank you
Please follow the google classroom for todays note and
assignments after 30 minutes
 Day 2
Mathematical expression of Newton’s
Universal law of gravitation
   us consider two bodies A and B having mass m1 and m2­ respectively and the distance between
Let
their centre is 'd'. The force acting between these two bodies is F Now, according to Newton's
universal law of gravitation,
1. The force of attraction between two bodies is directly proportional to the product of their masses.
i.e. F  m1 . m2 ............... (i)
2. The force of attraction between two bodies is inversely proportional to the square of distance
between their centers.
 i.e. F  ........... (ii)

Combining relation (i) and (ii), we get

F
 F = G ........ (iii)
where G is proportionality constant known as
“universal gravitational constant” and its value is 6.67 × 10 -11 Nm2/kg2.
Universal Gravitational
Constant (G)
    We have, F = G
When both the objects have masses 1 kg and are kept at a distance of 1m,
Then, F = G ; i.e F = G
 Thus, Universal gravitational constant is the force of attraction between two bodies
each of 1 kg mass and separated at 1 m distance.
 And the S.I. Unit of ‘G’ is N m2 / kg2.
 The value of gravitational constant was identified by Henry Cavendish by using a sensitive
balance and was found out 6.67 × 10-11 N m2 / kg2.
Variation of Gravitational
force with mass and distance
 As we know gravitational force varies with the change in mass and distance, we will
take some examples here to verify it.
 Major point to remember is we take the formula of gravitational force here for all.
Contd..(Variation)
When the masses are doubled keeping
the distance between them
unchanged
  When the masses are doubled,
m1’ = 2m1 m2’ = 2m2 & d’ = d
Then,
F1 = G
or, F1 = G
or, F1 = G
or, F1 = 4G
or, F1 = 4 F (⸪F=G)
Thus, When masses are doubled keeping the distance between them unchanged, the final
gravitational force increases by 4 times.
Contd..(Variation)
When the distance between the
centers is halved keeping the masses
unchanged.
  When the masses are kept unchanged and distance is made halved,
m1’ = m1 m2’ = m2 & d’ = d/2
Then,
F1 = G
or, F1 = G
or, F1 = G
or, F1 = 4G
or, F1 = 4 F (⸪F=G)
Thus, When the distance between the centers is halved keeping the masses unchanged, the
final gravitational force increases by 4 times.
Practice
1) When the mass of first object is doubled and second object is tripled keeping the distance
unchanged.
2) When the masses of both the objects are tripled keeping the distance unchanged.
3) When the masses of both the objects are doubled making the distance between the centers
halved.
4) When the mass of first object is tripled and second object is doubled extending the distance
between the centers by three times.
5) When the distance between the centers is increases by 3 times keeping the masses
unchanged

Ans: 1) 6 times greater 2) 9 times greater 3) 16 times greater

4) 2/3 times of F (1.5 times lesser) 5) 9 times lesser
 Day 3
Gravity / Weight
  shown in the picture, when we fall, everything that we carry fall downward. What may be the
 As
reason behind this?
 When we throw a ball upward, it falls back after certain time? What may be the reason behind this?
 It makes us clear that some force is acting upon us or every object found in our surrounding, which
pulls every body towards the earth surface.
 This force that pulls an object towards the centre of the earth or a heavenly body is called
gravity.
 It is a vector quantity and the direction is always towards the centre of heavenly body.
 Similarly, Weight can be defined as the measure of gravity acting on a body.
 Mathematically; F = W

Or, F = G ; Where F=gravity, W=weight, G=gravitational constant, M=mass of a heavenly body,

m=mass of an object, R=radius of the planet
 The area around a planet or

Effects of gravity
heavenly body up to where
the gravity of the planet or
heavenly body has its
influence on a body, is
 We can stand, walk, play and perform other called gravitational field.
activities freely on the earth due to the gravity. It depends on the mass and
radius of the planet or
 The rivers flow up to down due to gravity. heavenly body.
 The earth is covered by the atmosphere.
 All types of big or small objects fall down towards
the earth’s surface.

s 2.5 times more than that of

than that of earth.

Differences between Gravity
and Gravitation
Gravitation Gravity
1. Gravitation is the force of attraction between any Gravity is the force with which a body is
two bodies due to their masses. pulled towards the centre of the
earth/planet.
2. It depends on the mass of two bodies and It depends on the mass and radius of the
distance between them from their centres. earth/heavenly body.
 Workout problems
Q) Calculate the gravitational force between two objects A
and B of mass 80kg and B of 1200 kg and are kept at 10m
central distance? (Given G = 6.67×10-11Nm2/kg2)

 
Here,
Mass of object A (m1) = 80 kg
Mass of object B (m2) = 1200 kg
Distance between A and B (d) = 10 m
Universal gravitational constant (G) = 6.67×10 -11Nm2/kg2
Gravitational Force of attraction (F) = ?
According to the Newton’s law of gravitation, F = G
or, F =
or, F = 6.40×10-8N
Therefore, the gravitational force of attraction between objects A and B is 6.40×10 -8N.
 Workout problems
Q) The mass of the earth is 6×1024kg and that of sun is
2×1030kg. If they are at a distance of 1.5×108km. Calculate
the force of attraction between them.

 
Here,
Mass of the earth (m1) = 6×1024 kg
Mass of the sun (m2) = 2×1030 kg
Distance between them (d) = 1.5×108 km = 1.5×108×1000m = 1.5×1011 m
Universal gravitational constant (G) = 6.67×10 -11Nm2/kg2
Gravitational Force of attraction (F) = ?
According to the Newton’s law of gravitation, F = G
or, F =
or, F = 3.56×1022N
Therefore, the gravitational force of attraction between the sun and the earth is 3.56×1022N.
 Workout problems
Q) The mass of earth is 6×1024kg and radius is 6380km, calculate the
gravity that applies on an object of mass 1kg. (Given G=6.67×10-11
Nm2/kg2)

 
Here,
Mass of the earth (M) = 6×1024 kg
Radius of the earth (R) = 6380 km = 6.38×103×1000 m = 6.38×106 m
Mass of an object (m) = 1 kg
Universal gravitational constant (G) = 6.67×10-11Nm2/kg2
Gravitational Force of attraction (F) = ?
We have,
Gravity, F = G
or, F =
or, F = 9.8N
Therefore, the gravity of the earth on an object of unit mass is 9.8 N.
 Workout problems
Q) The radius of the Jupiter is 11 times more than that of the earth
and mass of the Jupiter is 319 times more than that of the earth. Now,
find out that how many times the gravity of the Jupiter is more than
that of the earth?

 
Here,
Mass of the earth = me
Mass of the Jupiter (mj) = 319 me
Radius of the earth = Re
Radius of the Jupiter (Rj) = 11 Re
Let the mass of a body be m,
Gravity acting on the surface of the earth, F e = G
And, gravity acting on the surface of the Jupiter, F j = G
or, Fj = G =G
or, Fj = 2.6G = 2.6 Fe
Therefore, the gravity of the Jupiter is about 2.6 times more than that of the earth.
Practice
1. If two masses A and B having mass 500 kg and 2000 kg respectively are separated
at a distance of 25 m from their centers. What will be the gravitational force
between them?
2. The distance between earth and the moon is 3.6 × 108m. If the mass of the earth is
6×1024 kg and mass of the moon is 7.2 × 1022 kg. What is the gravitational force
between them?
3. If the distance between two masses is increased by a factor 3, then by what factor
would the mass of one of them have to be altered to maintain the same
gravitational force? Would there be an increase or decrease in the mass?
4. When two masses are kept 2 m apart, there is gravitational force of 2N. What is the
gravitational force when they are kept at 4 m apart?
Ans: 1) 1.067 ×10-7 N 2) 2.22 × 1020 N 3) m'1 = 9m14) 0.5N
 Day 4
ACCELERATION DUE TO
GRAVITY
 It can be defined as the acceleration produced on a freely falling body due to
the force of gravity is called acceleration due to gravity.
 It’s SI unit is m/s2.
 It is denoted by ‘g’.
 The acceleration due to gravity of all the falling objects towards the surface of the
earth will be the same in the absence of external resistance.
Q) The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s2. What does it mean?
It means that the velocity of freely falling object increases by 9.8 m/s in each
second.
 HE
L AV
W IL IER
O N E D LIG OB
H U N JE
H IC RA O HT VS C T
W H G ? ??? ER
EA C ?? ? OB
R T ER JE
CT
FAS
 Two major concepts are popular:
 Aristotle’s idea of falling bodies
 A Greek philoshopher, Aristotle believed that when a heavy body and a light body fall from the same height the, the
heavier one falls faster on the earth than the lighter one. He came to conclusion that acceleration due to gravity is directly
proportional to the mass of an object.
 It was believed till 1590AD.
 Galileo’s idea of falling bodies
 Italian scientist Galileo Galilei in 1590AD conducted various experiments of dropping objects of different masses and
sizes from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
 He dropped two unequal sized stones together from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and observed that both the
stones hit the ground at the same time.
 He concluded that the acceleration due to gravity is independent on the mass of the object provided no external
resistance acts on them.
FEATHER AND COIN EXPERIMENT

Newton performed his famous feather and coin experiment to prove Galileo’s
hypothesis. He took a long glass tube and inserted a metallic coin and a feather into it.
When the tube was inverted, coin fell much faster than the feather did. With the help of
a vacuum pump, the air from the tube was removed. Now, both the coin and the feather
tended to fall together and hit the other end of the tube at the same time.
RELATION BETWEEN RADIUS AND
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
OF THE EARTH
   M be the mass of the earth with its radius R. If a body of mass ‘m’ is on the surface of the earth then,
Let
According to the Newton’s law of gravitation
The force of attraction between the is given by,
F = …………….(i)
Here, F represents the force by which the body is attracted towards the earth. So, F represents the
weight (W) of the object. Then equation (i) becomes m
W = …………..(ii)
R
But we have, from the second law of motion,
M
W=mg……………..(iii)
From equation (ii) and (iii) we get,
mg =
i.e. g = ⸫ g 
Thus, acceleration produced on the surface of the earth is inversely proportional to the square of the
radius of the earth. So, R decreases, g increase and vice-versa
FACTS ABOUT ‘g’
a)
   Acceleration due to gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the planet.

i.e. g  M
b) Inversely proportional to the square of the radius of the planet.
i.e. g 
c) Independent to the mass of the object lying on the earth’s surface.
d) The value of ‘g’ is maximum on the surface of the earth and it decreases on going
above the surface of the earth or going inside the surface of the earth.
e) The value of ‘g’ is 0 at the centre of the earth.
What is the value of ‘g’ at the
surface of the earth????
 The earth is not completely spherical in shape. The radius of the earth is slightly more
at the equator line than at the poles. As we know acceleration due to gravity is
inversely proportional to the square of the radius of the earth it is more at poles than
at equator.
 The value of ‘g’ at the equator is 9.78m/s2 and its value at the pole is 9.83m/s2.
Whereas the average value of ‘g’ is 9.8m/s2.
Differentiate between ‘g’ and
‘G’
Acceleration due to gravity (g) Universal Gravitational Constant (G)
The acceleration produced on a freely falling Gravitational constant is defined as the force of
body under the effect of gravity is called attraction between two bodies each of unit
acceleration due to gravity. masses kept at unit distance.
It is variable quantity. Its value changes from It is a constant quantity.
place to place.
It’s SI unit is m/s2. Its SI unit is Nm2/kg2
It is a vector quantity. It is a scalar quantity.
Differences between acceleration
due to gravity and Gravity.
Acceleration due to gravity Gravity
The acceleration produced on a freely falling Gravity is the force by which a body is attracted
body under the effect of gravity is called towards the centre of the earth or any other
acceleration due to gravity. heavenly body.
Its SI unit is m/s2. Its SI unit is N.
Assignment
1) The weight of the body is more in the Terai than in the Himalayan region. Why?
2) The value of ‘g’ at the centre of the earth is zero. Why?
3) The masses of the sun and the earth are 2×1030kg and 6×1024kg respectively. Find
the gravitational force between them if the distance between their centers is
1.5×1011m. (Ans: 3.56×1022N)
4) The Weight of a person is more at pole than at equator, why?
5) What is a mathematical relation between acceleration due to gravity of Earth and
that of Jupiter as well as acceleration due to gravity of earth and that of Moon.
 Day 5
Calculation of ‘g’ on earth
  the mass of the earth is 6×1024 kg and its radius is 6380 km. Find the acceleration due to
If
gravity of the earth?
Solution:
Given,
Mass of the earth (M) = 6×1024 kg
Radius of the earth (R) = 6380 km = 6.38×103km = 6.38×106m
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = ?
We have,
g=
g = = 9.83m/s2
Hence, the value of acceleration due to gravity on earth’s surface is 9.83m/s2.
Calculation of ‘g’ on Jupiter
  the mass of the Jupiter is 1.9×1027 kg and its radius is 7.1×107 m. Find the acceleration
If
due to gravity of the Jupiter?
Solution:
Given,
Mass of the Jupiter (M) = 1.9×1027 kg
Radius of the Jupiter (R) = 7.1×107m
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = ?
We have,
g=
g = = 25.13m/s2
Hence, the value of acceleration due to gravity on Jupiter’s surface is 25.13m/s2.
Calculation of ‘g’ on moon
  the mass of the Moon is 7.2×1022 kg and its radius is 1.7×106 m. Find the acceleration due
If
to gravity of the Moon?
Solution:
Given,
Mass of the Moon (M) = 7.2×1022 kg
Radius of the Moon (R) = 1.7×106m
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = ?
We have,
g=
g = = 1.67m/s2
Hence, the value of acceleration due to gravity on Moon’s surface is 1.67m/s2.
Workout Example
   A person can lift 50 kg mass on the earth’s surface. Find the mass that he can
Q)
lift on the surface of the moon. (Given, gmoon = 1.67m/s2)
Let ‘m’ be the mass that the person can lift on the surface of the moon.
We know that,
Force applied by the person on the earth’s surface = force applied on the surface of the moon
or, mearth × gearth = m × gmoon
or, 50 × 9.8 = m × 1.67
or, m =
or, m = 293.41 kg
Hence, the person can lift 295.18 kg on the surface of the moon.
Mass and Weight
MASS WEIGHT
Mass of an object is the quantity of the matter Weight of an object is the pulling force exerted
possessed by it. by earth on an object.
Mass of an object does not vary from place to Weight of an abject varies from place to place
place. for the same body.
There is no place or condition under which At the centre of the earth or at the place where
mass of an object be zero. R=0, weight of an object will be 0.
Mass is a scalar quantity. Weight is a vector quantity.
Mass of an object is measured by a Weight of an object is measured by a spring
physical/beam balance. balance.
The SI unit of mass is kilogram. The SI unit of weight is Newton.
FREEFALL
 When a body falls freely under the effect of gravity only neglecting the air
resistance then the body is said to be in free fall.
 Examples:
 When a body falls downwards in a vacuum, the fall of the body is considered a freefall.
 The fall of a body towards the surface of moon is called a freefall as there is no
atmosphere on the surface of the moon.
 Artificial satellites revolve around the earth in a circular path. Centripetal force is
essential for an object to revolve in a circular path. This force should be equal to the
gravitational force between the earth and the object.
 Freefall is experienced by the astronauts while revolving around the earth inside the
spacecraft.
WEIGHTLESSNESS
 Weightlessness is a condition in which the effective weight of a body becomes
zero.
 It is due to the zero resultant force of the earth or other heavenly bodies.
 Examples:
 The astronauts inside the revolving aircraft experience weightlessness. They can hang any
where in the room of the aircraft. During this condition the resultant force is zero, so
astronauts feel weightless inside the aircraft.
 While jumping out of an aeroplane with parachute, the air resistance will be considerably
high. As the velocity increases, there comes a condition when the downward force of falling
object is equal to upthrust of the air. In this condition the acceleration due to gravity is zero.
The falling object has no acceleration and it falls with a uniform velocity. As a result the
velocity of a paratrooper will be low and s/he can balance the body and land safely.
Conditions for Weightlessness
 When a body is falling freely. (Since the reaction force is zero during freefall.)
 When a body is in the space at null point. (Since the value of g=0, weight = mg = m×0
= 0.)
 When a body is in the rocket which is orbiting round the heavenly body. (Since the
body inside the rocket is in the state of freefall.)
Assignment
1) Which one will get injured, a person jumps with a parachute at surface of earth or at
the surface of moon? Why?
2) A person falling freely in a lift feels weightlessness. Why?
3) Can weightlessness be called as masslessness. Why?
4) A heavenly body has mass one third of the earth and its radius is half as that of the
earth. If a stone weighs 200N on earth’s surface, find the weight on that heavenly body.
(Ans: 266.67N)
5) How much would a 70kg man weigh on the moon? What would be his mass on the
earth and on the moon? (Ans: 114.33N, 70kg)

END OF THE CHAPTER