16/02/2025, 09:51 Gravitation Class 9 Notes Science Chapter 9 Free PDF

Chapter Notes: Gravitation

What is Gravitation?
Gravitation is a natural force that makes every object in the universe pull on every other
object.

This pulling force is called the force of gravitation.

Although this force is quite weak and usually needs large masses to be noticeable, it can act
over great distances.
The law of gravitation applies to objects everywhere in the universe, making it a universal
law.

Centripetal Force
Centripetal force is what keeps objects moving in a circular path. It pulls objects towards
the centre of the circle, helping them keep moving in that circular motion. The strength of
this force depends on:

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Examples of Centripetal Force

The speed of the object.

The distance from the centre.
The mass of the object.

When we say "centripetal," we mean moving towards the centre. The object's speed stays
constant as it moves along the circular path, which is called tangential velocity.
There's a similar-sounding force called centrifugal force, but it actually makes things want to fly
off in a straight line from the circle's center. People sometimes mix up centripetal and centrifugal
forces.

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Universal Law of Gravitation

According to Newton’s law of gravitation, the force of gravitational attraction between two
objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.

This means:
The gravitational force gets weaker as you go higher up.
It also changes on the Earth's surface, becoming weaker from the poles to the equator.

Formula: If M and m be masses of two objects separated by a distance d, the gravitational force
of attraction between them is given by:
Mm 2
F=G ⁄d

where G is a constant, known as the Universal constant of gravitation.

The universal constant of gravitation G is numerically equal to the force of attraction
between two objects of unit mass each separated by unit distance.
The value of G is 6.673 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2. This value was determined by Henry
Cavendish (1731 – 1810) using a sensitive balance.
G is called a universal constant because its value does not depend on the nature of the
intervening medium or temperature or any other physical variable.

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As the value of G is extremely small, the gravitational force between regular objects is so
small that it cannot be detected.
However, the force of attraction acting on an object due to Earth, the force of attraction
between Earth and the moon, and the force experienced by planets due to the
gravitational attraction of Sun can be easily felt and measured.

Try yourself: Which of the following statements is true according to the universal law of
gravitation?

a. The force of attraction between two objects depends on their masses and the
distance between them.

b. The value of the universal constant of gravitation depends on the nature of the
intervening medium.

c. The gravitational force between ordinary terrestrial objects is easily detected

and measured.

d. The value of the universal constant of gravitation is 9.8 m/s^2.

View Solution

Example 1: Suppose we have two objects: Object A with a mass of 5 kilograms and Object B
with a mass of 10 kilograms. The distance between the centers of these objects is 2 meters.
-11 2 2
We'll assume the gravitational constant, G, to be approximately 6.674 × 10 N m /kg .
Solution:

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Using the Universal Law of Gravitation, we can calculate the gravitational force between these
objects:
1 2 2
F = (G * (m * m )) / r
-11 2 2 2
F = (6.674 × 10 N m /kg * (5 kg * 10 kg)) / (2 m)
-11 2 2 2 2
F = (6.674 × 10 N m /kg * 50 kg ) / 4 m
−10
F ≈ 8.3425×10 N
Therefore, the gravitational force between Object A and Object B is approximately 8.3425×10
−10
Newtons.

Try yourself: Which of the following pairs of objects will experience the greatest
gravitational force?

a. Object R with a mass of 150 kilograms and Object S with a mass of 300
kilograms, separated by a distance of 4 meters

b. Object P with a mass of 50 kilograms and Object Q with a mass of 100

kilograms, separated by a distance of 2 meters.

c. Object M with a mass of 200 kilograms and Object N with a mass of 400
kilograms, separated by a distance of 3 meters.

d. Object X with a mass of 100 kilograms and Object Y with a mass of 200
kilograms, separated by a distance of 1 meter.

View Solution

Importance Of The Universal Law Of Gravitation

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The universal law of gravitation successfully explained several phenomena which were
believed to be unconnected:

The force that binds us to the Earth

The motion of the moon around the Earth
The motion of planets around the Sun
The tides due to the moon and the Sun

Free Fall or Gravity

The force that pulls objects toward the Earth is known as the force of gravity.

For an object with mass m located on or near the Earth, this force can be calculated using the
formula: F = GMm/R², where G is the universal gravitational constant, M is the mass of the
Earth, and R is the radius of the Earth.
The acceleration produced in a freely falling object on account of the force of gravity is
known as the acceleration due to gravity. It is denoted by the symbol ‘g’.

Gravitation Formula

To Calculate the Value of g

The acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface is given by the formula: g = GM/R². The
average value of g on the surface of the Earth is about 9.8 m/s². To find g, we use these
constants:

-11
G = 6.7 × 10 N m²/kg² (Gravitational Constant)
M = 6 × 10 24 kg (Mass of the earth)
R = 6.4 × 106 m (Radius of the earth)
Here's how the value of g is calculated.

Calculation of acceleration due to gravity

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The motion of Objects under the influence of Gravitational Force of the

Earth
The value of g varies from place to place. On the surface of the earth value of g is more at
the poles than at the equator. Again value of g decreases as one goes away and away from
the earth.

Free Fall Motion

When an object falls towards the earth under the force of gravity alone, we say that the
object is in free fall. A freely falling object experiences a constant acceleration of g
(=9.8ms-2) during its downward motion. However, if an object is projected vertically
upward with a certain velocity, its velocity goes on decreasing due to gravity, till it comes
to rest and then starts falling vertically downward under gravity.
To demonstrate the impact of air resistance on falling objects, try this activity:
Activity: Drop a piece of paper and a stone from the same height at the same time.
Check if both hit the ground together. You will notice that the paper takes longer to fall
because of air resistance. In a vacuum, both would fall at the same speed.
The three equations of motion viz, (i) v = u + at, (ii) s = ut + 1/2 at2, and (iii) v2 - u2 = 2as
are true for motion of objects under gravity. For free fall, the value of acceleration a = g =
9.8ms-2.
-2
If an object is just let fall from a height then in that case u = 0 and a = +g = +9.8ms .
If an object is projected vertically upwards with an initial velocity u, then a = -g = -9.8ms-
2
and the object will go to a maximum height h where its final velocity becomes zero (i.e.
v = 0). In such a case

Examples for the Three Equations of Motion Under Gravity

1. Using v = u+at:

2
2. Using s = ut + 1/2at

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2 2
2. Using v −u =2as:

Mass
The mass of an object is a measure of its inertia. The mass of an object is constant and does not
change from place to place.

Mass and Weight

Weight
The weight of an object is the force with which it is attracted towards the earth. Weight
W of an object of mass m will be W = mg. Weight is a force acting vertically downwards.
It means that it is a vector.
As the weight of an object is a force, its SI unit is Newton (N).
An object of mass m = 1 kg has thus a weight of W = 1 x 9.8 = 9.8 N.
At a given place weight of an object is directly proportional to its mass t.e., (at
a given place). Due to this reason at a given place, we may use the weight of an object as
a measure of its mass.

Weight of Object on the Moon

Mass of an object remains the same everywhere but weight of an object changes from
place to place. For an object of mass m weight W is dependent on value of g.
Force of gravity due to moon is 1/6th of the force of gravity due to earth.
Hence
Due to this very reason weight of an object on moon will be 1/6th of its weight on the
earth.

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Try yourself: Question: Which of the following statements about weight is true?

a. Weight is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.

b. Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object.

c. Weight is a constant property of an object and does not change.

d. Weight is the same as mass.

View Solution

Thrust and Pressure

The normal force acting on a surface, due to the weight of an object placed on the surface,
is called ‘thrust’. As thrust is a sort of force hence its SI unit is “a newton” (N).

Thrust

The thrust on unit surface area is called pressure.

Pressure
Thus, pressure on a given object is the normal force acting on its surface per unit surface
area.
-2
SI unit of pressure is N m but it is also called pascal and denoted by symbol Pa.
∴ 1 pascal (1 Pa) = 1 N m-2
Same force acting on a smaller area exerts a larger pressure. It is due to this reason that
a nail or a pin has a pointed tip and knives have sharp edges.

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Given force acting on a larger area exerts a smaller pressure. It is due to this reason that
foundations of houses are made broad, base of dams is made broad, sleepers are laid
below the railway line and so on.

Pressure in Fluids
Fluid is that state of matter which can flow. All liquids and gases are fluids.

As fluids have weight, they exert pressure on the base and the walls of the container in
which they are kept.
In a fluid, pressure applied at any one place is transmitted equally in all directions.

Buoyancy
Whenever an object is immersed in a fluid, it experiences a force in the vertically upward
direction due to that fluid. This force due to a fluid acting in upward direction is called
‘force of buoyancy’ or ‘buoyant force or up thrust.

Buoyancy

Magnitude of force of buoyancy acting on an object depends upon

(i) the volume of an object immersed into the fluid, and
(ii) the density of the fluid. Due to force of buoyancy the net weight of an object becomes
less than its normal weight.

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Try yourself: What is the SI unit of weight?

a. Newton (N)

b. Kilogram (kg)

c. Pascal (Pa)

d. Meter (m)

View Solution

Why Objects Float Or Sink When Placed On The Surface Of Water?

The ability of an object to float or sink when placed on the surface of water is determined
by its density and the density of the water. Density is a measure of how much mass is
contained in a given volume.

Floating and Sinking on Surface of

Water

When an object is placed in water, it experiences two main forces: buoyancy and gravity.
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid (in this case, water).
It is caused by the difference in pressure between the top and bottom of the object. The
greater the volume of water displaced by the object, the greater the buoyant force.
According to Archimedes' principle, an object will experience an upward buoyant force equal

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to the weight of the water it displaces. If the buoyant force is greater than the object's
weight, it will float. If the buoyant force is less than the object's weight, it will sink.
Gravity, on the other hand, is the downward force pulling the object toward the center of
the Earth. The weight of the object depends on its mass and the acceleration due to gravity. If
the weight of the object is greater than the buoyant force, it will sink. If the weight is less
than the buoyant force, it will float.

In summary, whether an object floats or sinks in water depends on the comparison between its
weight and the buoyant force exerted by the water. If the object's weight is greater, it will sink. If
the buoyant force is greater, it will float.

Archimedes’ Principle
A Greek scientist Archimedes discovered a principle regarding buoyant force (or the loss
in weight of an object when immersed in a fluid).

Archimedes' Principle

According to Archimedes’ principle “whenever an object 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”.
Alternately, according to Archimedes’ principle “there is always a loss (decrease) in
weight of an object when it is immersed fully or partially in a fluid and the loss in weight
is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the immersed part of given object”.
Archimedes’ principle has many applications. Design of ships, submarines, lactometer
and hydrometer are some of the applications of Archimedes’ principle.

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Try yourself: Archimedes' principle states that:

a. The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by
the object

b. The buoyant force on an object is equal to the volume of the fluid displaced by
the object

c. The buoyant force on an object is equal to the mass of the fluid displaced by the
object

d. The buoyant force on an object is equal to the density of the fluid displaced by
the object

View Solution

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