GRAVITATION

F  m1m2 (for a given pair of particles)

(for a given separation between

the particles)

So

or

Here G is a constant known as the universal

constant of gravitation. G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
 G is independent of the masses of the bodies
and the distance between them.
 Newton's law of gravitation is applicable for
Any two particles in the universe attract each everybody in the universe.
other. This force is called the force of
gravitation. Note : The force between any two bodies in
This concept was given by Newton. the universe is called the force of gravitation
while the force with which earth attracts a
body is called the force of gravity.

According to newton, "Any two bodies in  Some Scientific Phenomenon Based on

universe attract each other with a force Gravitational Force :
directly proportional to the product of their  The gravitational force between the sun and

masses and inversely proportional to the the earth keeps the earth moving around the
square of the distance between them." sun.
 Mathematical expression  The gravitational force b/w the earth and the

Lat A and B be two particle of mass m 1 and moon keeps the moon moving around the
m2 respectively. Let the distance AB = r. earth.
By the law of gravitational, the particle A  Existence of our solar system is due to

attracts the particle B with a force F such that. gravitational force.

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 Gravitation force of the sun and the moon on mass of man, m2 = 50 kg
the earth's water surface is responsible for the Distance between them is to be taken equal to
tides in sea. the radius of earth.
 Atmosphere above the earth is held due to  r = 6.4 × 106 m
gravitational force of the earth. Substituting these values, we get
 Gravitational force between the sun and
F = = 488.5
planet keeps the planet moving around the
sun. N
 Gravitational force is responsible for Ex. 3 Compare the gravitational forces exerted by
providing the centripetal force required by the the sun and the moon on earth. Which exerts
planets. a greater force on earth ?
 The attractive force of the earth is responsible (Given : mass of sun, Ms = 4 × 1031 kg; mass of
for providing the centripetal force required by moon, Mm = 6.3 × 1022 kg; distance between
moon. sun and earth, rse=1.3 × 1012 m and the distance
 Newton's Third Law of Motion and Law of between moon and earth, rme= 4.5 × 108m)
Gravitation : Sol. If mass of sun is Ms and mass of earth is Me
 Newton's third law of motion is applicable to and distance between the sun and earth is r se,
gravitation also. then force exerted by the sun on earth is
Ex. if the earth exerts a force of attraction on
a body, the body also exerts an equal and Fs = ...(1)
opposite force of attraction on the earth.
 As a = F/m
Similarly, if mass of moon is M m, mass of
mass of the body is larger, acceleration earth is Me, the distance between moon and
earth is rme, then force exerted by moon on the
produced will be smaller and vice versa.
earth is
Ex. 1 Calculate the force between two masses of
100 kg and 1000 kg separated by a distance Fm = ...(2)
of 10 m (G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2).
Sol. According to Newton's law of gravitation, Dividing equation (1) by equation (2), we get
force of attraction between two bodies is
= ×
F=

Here, m1 = 100 kg; m2 = 1000 kg ; = ×

r = 10 m ; G = 6.67 × 10–11Nm2/kg2

 F= = × = 76.07

= 6.67 × 10–8 N The force exerted by the sun on earth is

Ex. 2 Given mass of earth = 6 × 1024 kg, radius of about 76 times the force exerted by the moon
earth = 6.4 × 106 m. Calculate the force of on earth.
attraction experienced by a man of mass 50 kg. Ex. 4 If mass and radius of earth is 6.0 × 1024 kg
Sol. Force of gravitation is given by the and 6.4 × 106 m respectively, calculate the
force exerted by earth on a body of mass
expression, F= 1 kg. Also, calculate :
(i) acceleration produced in the body of mass
Here, mass of earth, m1 = 6 × 1024 kg;
1 kg, and
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 (ii) acceleration produced in the earth  The force which earth exerts on a body is
Sol. From Newton's law of gravitation, we know
called 'force of gravity'. i.e. F =
that the force of attraction between two
bodies is given by Where M = mass of the earth, R = radius of
the earth.
F=
 Due to this force, a body released from some
Here, m1 = mass of earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg; height on the earth's surface falls towards the
earth with its velocity increasing at a constant
m2 = mass of body = 1 kg
rate.
r = distance between the two bodies
 Acceleration due to Gravity :
= radius of earth = 6.4 × 106 m  The acceleration produced in a body due to
G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2 attraction of earth is called the acceleration
due to gravity and is denoted by 'g'.
 F = =
m/s2
9.8 N
This shows that earth exerts a force of 9.8 N near the earth surface
on a body of mass of 1 kg. The body will
exert an equal force of attraction of 9.8 N on g on moon m/s2
earth.  A body moving upwards with some initial
(i) Acceleration produced in the body of mass velocity, experiences a retardation of
1kg 9.8 m/s2 & its velocity decreases continuously
Force = mass × acceleration unless it becomes zero.
 Acceleration, a = = = 9.8 m/s2  After this, it again starts falling towards the
earth with the same acceleration of 9.8 m/s2.
Thus, the acceleration produced in a body of  The value of g is minimum at equator and
mass 1 kg due to attraction of earth is maximum at poles.
9.8 m/s2, which is quite large. Thus, when a  The value of g does not depend upon the
body is released, it falls towards the earth mass of the body falling towards the earth.
with an acceleration of 9.8 m/s2, which can be
easily observed.
(ii) Acceleration produced in the earth
Similarly, acceleration of earth is given by
(A) Variation with altitude or height :
= =  When a body moves above the earth's surface
the distance of the body from the centre of
= 1.63 × 10–24 m/s2 earth increases there by decreasing the force
This shows that the acceleration produced in of attraction.
the earth by a body of mass 1 kg is
1.63 × 10–24 m/s2 which is very small and  g= ; at the earth's surface.
cannot be observed.
 g= ; at a height h above the earth's

surface.
 As we go above the earth's surface the value
of g goes on decreasing.
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 spaceships.
6 Mass is a Weight is a vector
. scalar quantity. quantity.

Ex. 5 Given mass of earth is 6 × 10 24 kg and mean

radius of earth is 6.4 × 10 6 m. Calculate the
(B) Variation with depth d : value of acceleration due to gravity (g) on the
 As we go deeper inside the earth, the body
surface of the earth.
gets attracted by the core of the earth which is Sol. The formula for the acceleration due to
smaller in mass. gravity is given by

g=

Here, G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2;

M = mass of earth = 6 × 1024 kg;
R = radius of earth = 6.4 × 106 m
 As we go inside the earth, the value of g
decreases. g= = 9.8 m/s2
 Force of attraction decreases and thus
decreasing the value of g and becoming zero Ex. 6 Calculate the value of acceleration due to
at the centre. gravity on a planet whose mass is 4 times as
that of the earth and radius is 3 times as that
(C) Variation due to rotation of the earth : of the earth.
 Due to the rotation of the earth, the weight of
Sol. If M is the mass of the earth and R is the
a body is maximum at the poles and radius of earth, the value of acceleration due
minimum at the equator. to gravity on the earth (ge) is given by
ge= ...(1)

Let us consider a planet such that mass of the

Mass Weight planet is equal to 4 times the mass of earth.
Mp = 4M
1 Mass of a body Weight of a body is the
Radius of the planet is equal to 3 times the
. is defined as force with which it is
radius of earth.
the quantity of attracted towards the
Re = 3R
matter centre of the earth.
Then, acceleration due to gravity on this
contained in it. W = mg
planet(gp) is
2 Mass of a body Weight of a body
. remains changes from place to gp = = . ...(2)
constant and place. It depends upon
does not the value of g. Weight Dividing equation (2) by equation (1), we get
change from of a body on another
place to place. planet will be different.
3 Mass is Weight is measured by = or =
. measured by a a spring balance.
pan balance.
4 Unit of mass is Unit of weight is or gp = (ge)
. kg. newton or kg-wt.
5 Mass of a body Weight of a body can be Since ge = 9.8 m/s2
. cannot be zero. zero.  gp = × 9.8 = 4.35 m/s2
Ex. astronauts experience
weightlessness in Thus, acceleration due to gravity on the given
planet is 4.35 m/s2.
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Ex. 7 Given the mass of the moon = 7.35 × 10 22 kg = 2624 km
and the radius of the moon = 1740 km. Ex. 9 Given mass of the planet Mars is 6 × 1023 kg
Calculate the acceleration experienced by a and radius is 4.3 × 106 m. Calculate the
particle on the surface of the moon due to the weight of a man whose weight on earth is 600
gravitational force of the moon. Find the ratio N. (Given g on earth = 10 m/s2)
of this acceleration to that experienced by the Sol. Weight of the man on earth, W = mg
same particle on the surface of the earth. or 600 = m × 10 or m = 60 kg
Sol. If Mm is the mass of the moon and Rm is its So the mass of the man is 60 kg which will
radius, then the acceleration experienced by a remain the same everywhere.
body on its surface is given by Now acceleration due to gravity on Mars,

gm =
a=

Here, Mm = 7.3 × 1022 kg; Here, Mm = 6 × 1023 kg; Rm = 4.3 × 106m

Rm = 1740 km = 1.74 × 106 m
 gm = = 2.17
 a= = 1.57 m/s2
m/s2 Now, weight of the man on Mars will be
While the acceleration due to gravity on the Wm = m × gm = 60 × 2.17 = 130.2 N
surface of the earth, is given by

ge = = = 9.8

m/s2
Comparing acceleration due to gravity on
moon to that on the earth is Since the freely falling bodies fall with
uniformly accelerated motion, the three
= = 0.16 equations of motion derived earlier for bodies
Ex. 8 At what height above the earth's surface the under uniform acceleration can be applied to
value of g will be half of that on the earth's the motion of freely falling bodies. For freely
surface ? falling bodies, the acceleration due to gravity
Sol. We know that the value of g at earth's surface is 'g', so we replace the acceleration 'a' of the
is equations by 'g' and since the vertical distance
of the freely falling bodies is known as height
g= ...(1) 'h', we replace the distance 's' in our equations
by the height 'h'. This gives us the following
While the value of g at a height h above the modified equations for the motion of freely
earth's surface is given by falling bodies.
g´ = ...(2) Equations
Dividing equation (2) by equation (1), we get of motion
General equation of
for freely
motion
= or g´ = g falling
bodies
(i) v = u + at changes to v = u + gt
Here, g´ =
(ii) changes to
 =g
(iii) v2 = u2 + 2 as changes to v2 = u2 + 2gh

or = We shall use these modified equations to

solve numerical problems. Before we do that,
or R + h = we should remember the following important
or h = ( – 1)R points for the motion of freely falling bodies.
or h = (1.41 – 1) × 6400 = 0.41 × 6400
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 (i) When a body is dropped freely from a height, (iv) The distance travelled by a freely falling body
its initial velocity 'u' becomes zero is directly proportional to the square of time
(ii) When a body is thrown vertically upwards, its of fall.
final velocity 'v' becomes zero
(iii) The time taken by body to rise to the highest
point is equal to the time it takes to fall from
the same height.

EXERCISE # 1
Q.14 As we go inside the earth, what is the effect
on the value of g ?
Q.1 Give the formula to calculate the gravitational
force of attraction. Q.15 What is the value of g at the centre of earth?

Q.2 What is the value of gravitational constant ?

Q.3 What is the unit of gravitational constant ?

Q.4 Does the gravitational force between two Q.16 How does the gravitational force change
bodies change, if some other material body is between two objects when the distance
placed between them ? between them is doubled ?

Q.5 What is the approximate value of acceleration Q.17 Why two stones do not come closer, even if
due to gravity on the surface of earth ? there is gravitational force of attraction
between them ?
Q.6 What is the unit of acceleration due to
Q.18 Under what conditions our weight becomes
gravity?
zero? Give examples.
Q.7 State the relation between g and G on earth. Q.19 An astronaut inside a spaceship orbiting
round the earth feels weightlessness. Explain.
Q.8 What is the effect of altitude on the value of g ?
Q.20 The weight of a body is less inside the earth
Q.9 What is the weight of a body at a height equal to than on the surface. Why?
the radius of earth above the earth's surface ?
Q.21 For two bodies of different masses,
Q.10 Is the weight of body more at the equator or acceleration due to gravity is same or
at poles ? different? Explain.

Q.11 Which force is responsible for the earth Q.22 Newton's law of gravitation states that there is
revolving round the sun ? a force of attraction between two bodies. Why
do we not observe the motion of two stones
Q.12 A stone is released from some height, it lying on the floor moving towards each other ?
moves towards the earth. Does the earth also /

move towards the stone ? Q.23 Calculate the force of attraction between two
bodies of masses 100 kg and 60 kg
Q.13 A light and a heavy body, both are dropped respectively separated by a distance of 5 m
simultaneously from the same height. Which from each other.
will strike the ground earlier ?

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Q.24 If the distance between two bodies is Q.35 A body weighs 160 N on the surface of the
decreased by a factor of 4, by what factor the earth. Calculate his weight at a height of
force of attraction will change ? 3.6 × 106 m from the surface of the earth.
Radius of earth = 6.4 × 106 m.
Q.25 Calculate force of attraction on a body of
mass 50 kg lying on the surface of earth.
Given that the mass of earth = 6 × 10 24 kg
radius of the earth = 6.4 × 10 6 m and
G = 6.67 × 10–11Nm2/kg2.

Q.26 What happens to the weight of a body when it

is falling freely under gravity ?

Q.27 Although, the value of G is very small, but all

the objects near the surface of earth fall
towards the earth. Why ?

Q.28 Calculate the force of gravitation between

two bodies each of mass 80 kg and placed
16 cm apart. (Take G = 6.67 × 10–11
Nm2/kg2)

Q.29 The mass of Mars is th and its radius is

half of that of the earth. Calculate value of g

on the surface of Mars.

Q.30 What is the weight of a body whose mass is

25 kg ?

Q.31 Discuss the terms gravitation and gravity with

suitable examples.

Q.32 State Newton's law of gravitation. State the

unit and value of gravitational constant.

Q.33 Discuss the various factors on which the

value of g depends.

Q.34 Compare the gravitational attraction on the

earth due to the attraction of sun due to
attraction of moon. Given mass of sun = 2 ×
1030 kg, mass of moon = 7.35 × 10 22 kg,
distance of sun from earth = 1.5 × 10 11 m,
distance of moon from earth = 3.84 × 108m.

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 EXERCISE # 2

(C) 6.67 × 10–11 (D) 6.67 x 10–12

Q.1 When an apple falls from a tree: Q.7 The gravitational force between two bodies
(A) only earth attracts the apple varies with distance r as :
(B) only apple attracts the earth (A) 1/r (B) 1/r2
(C) both the earth and the apple attract each (C) r (D) r2
other
(D) none attracts each other Q.8. The value of G in year 1900 was
6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2, The value of G in the
Q.2 Force of attraction between two bodies does year 2007 will be :
not depend upon : (A) 6.673 × 10–9 Nm2 kg–2
(A) the shape of bodies (B) 6.673 × 10–10 Nm2 kg–2
(B) the distance between their centres (C) 6.673 × 10–2 Nm2 kg–2
(C) the magnitude of their masses (D) 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
(D) the gravitational constant
Q.9 Value of G on surface of earth is
Q.3 When the medium between two bodies
6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2, then value of G on
changes, force of gravitation between them :
surface of Jupiter is :
(A) will increase
(A) 12 × 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
(B) will decrease
(C) will change according to the environment (B) × 1 0–11 Nm2 kg–2
(D) remains same
(C) 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
Q.4 S.I. unit of G is :
(D) × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
(A) Nm2 kg–2 (B) Nm kg–2
(C) N kg2M–2 (D) Nkg m–2
Q.10 The earth attracts the moon with a
Q.5 The value of universal gravitational constant: gravitational force of 1020 N. Then the moon
(A) changes with change of place
attracts the earth with a gravitational force of:
(B) does not change from place to place
(A) 10–20 N (B) 102 N
(C) becomes more at night
(C) 1020 N (D) 1010 N
(D) becomes more during the day

Q.6 The value of G in S.I. unit is : Q.11 The orbits of planets around the sun are:
(A) 6.67 × 10–9 (B) 6.67 × 10–10 (A) circular (B) parabolic

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 (C) elliptical (C) straight Q.18 If planet existed whose mass and radius were
both half of the earth, the acceleration due to
Q.12 Law of gravitation is applicable for: gravity at the surface would be :
(A) heavy bodies only (A) 19.6 m/sec2 (B) 9.8 m/s2
(B) medium sized bodies only (C) 4.9 ms–2 (D) 2.45 m/s2
(C) small sized bodies only
Q.19 A stone is dropped from the top of a tower.
(D) bodies of any size
Its velocity after it has fallen 20 m is
[Take g = 10 ms–2] :
Q.13 The universal law of gravitation was (A) 5 ms–1 (B) 10 m s–1
proposed by : (C) 15 m s–1 (D) 20 m s–1
(A) Copernicus (B) Newton
(C) Galileo (D) Archimedes Q.20 A ball is thrown vertically upwards. The
acceleration due to gravity:
(A) is in the direction opposite to the
Q.14 Choose the correct statement : direction of its motion
(A) All bodies repel each other in the (B) is in the same direction as the direction of
universe. its motion
(B) Our earth does not behave like a magnet. (C) increases as it comes down
(C) Acceleration due to gravity is 8.9 ms–2 (D) become zero at the highest point.
(D) All bodies fall at the same rate in
vacuum. Q.21 The acceleration due to gravity on the moon's
surface is:
Q.15 The value of acceleration due to gravity (g) (A) approximately equal to that near the
on earth's surface is : earth's surface
(A) 6.67 x 10–11 Nm2 kg2 (B) approximately six times that near the
(B) 8.9 m/sec2 earth's surface
(C) 9.8 m/sec2 (C) approximately one-sixth of that near the
(D) none of these earth's surface
(D) slightly greater than that near the earth's
Q.16 The acceleration due to gravity: surface
(A) has the same value everywhere in space
(B) has the same value everywhere on the Q.22 The force acting on a ball due to earth has a
earth magnitude Fb and that acting on the earth due
(C) varies with the latitude on the earth to the ball has a magnitude Fe Then :
(D) is greater on moon because it has smaller (A) Fb = Fe (B) Fb > Fe
diameter
(C) Fb < Fe (D) Fe = 0

Q.17 When a space ship is at a distance of two

Q.23 Force of gravitation between two bodies of
earths radius from the centre of the earth, the
gravitational acceleration is : mass 1 kg each kept at a distance of 1 m is :
(A) 19.6 ms–2 (B) 9.8 m/s–2 (A) 6.67 N (B) 6.67 × 10–9 N
(C) 4.9 m/s 2
(D) 2.45 ms–2 (C) 6.67 × 10–11 N (D) 6.67 × 10–7 N

Q.24 The force of gravitation between two bodies

does not depend on:
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 (A) their separation (C) 9.8 m/s2 (D) 19.6 m/s2
(B) the product of their masses
(C) the sum of their masses Q.32 When a body is thrown up, the force of
(D) the gravitational constant gravity is :
(A) in upward direction
Q.25 The ratio of the value of g on the surface of (B) in downward direction
moon to that on the earth's surface is : (C) zero
(A) 6 (B) (D) in horizontal direction

(C) (D)
Q. 33 Mass of an object is :
(A) amount of matter present in the object
Q.26 Order of magnitude of G in S.I. unit is : (B) same as weight of an object
(A) 10–11 (B) 1011 (C) measure of gravitational pull
(C) 10–7 (D) 107 (D) none of these

Q.27 The S.I. unit of g is :

Q.34 The weight of an object is :
(A) m2/s (B) m/s2
2 (A) the quantity of matter it contains
(C) s/m (D) m/s
(B) refers to its inertia
Q.28 If the distance between two masses be (C) same as its mass but is expressed in
doubled then the force between them will different units
become : (D) the force with which it is attracted
towards the earth
(A) times (B) 4 times

(C) times (D) 2 times Q.35 Weight of an object depends on :

(A) temperature of the place
(B) atmosphere of the place
Q.29 The type of force which exists between
(C) mass of an object
charged bodies is
(D) none of these
(A) only gravitational
(B) neither gravitational nor electrical
Q.36 The mass of body is measured to be 12 kg on
(C) only electrical
the earth. Its mass on moon will be :
(D) both electrical and gravitational
(A) 12 kg (B) 6 kg
(C) 2 kg (D) 72 kg
Q.30 The acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2
(A) Much above the earth's surface Q.37 A heavy stone falls:
(B) Near the earth's surface (A) faster than a light stone
(C) Deep inside the earth (B) slower than a light stone
(D) At the centre of the earth (C) with same acceleration as light stone
(D) none of these
Q.31 A particle is taken to a height R above the
earth's surface, where R is the radius of the Q.38 A stone is dropped from the roof of a building
earth. The acceleration due to gravity there is - takes 4s to reach the ground. The height of
(A) 2.45 m/s2 (B) 4.9 m/s2 the building is :
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 (A) 19.6m (B) 39.2 m (C) aA< aB (D) aA aB
(C) 156.8 m (D) 78.4 m
Q.42 A body is thrown up with a velocity of
Q.39 A ball is thrown up and attains a maximum 20 m/s. The maximum height attained by it is
height of 19.6 m. Its initial speed was: approximately:
(A) 9.8 ms–1 (B) 44.3 ms–1 (A) 80 m (B) 60 m
(C) 40 m (D) 20 m
(C) 19.6 ms–1 (D) 98 ms–1

Q.43 The weight of a body is 120 N on the earth. If

Q.40 The value of g at pole is :
it is taken to the moon, its weight will be
(A) greater than the value at the equator about:
(B) less than the value at the equator (A) 120 N (B) 60 N
(C) equal to the value at the equator (C) 20 N (D) 720 N
(D) none of these
Q.44 Two iron and wooden balls identical in size
Q.41 Two bodies A and B of mass 500 g and 200 g are released from the same height in vacuum.
respectively are dropped near the earth's The time taken by them to reach the ground
surface. Let the acceleration of A and B be a A are-
and aB respectively, then: (A) not equal (B) exactly equal
(C) regularly equal (D) zero
(A) aA = aB (B) aA > aB

ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE-1

1. F = G m1 m2 /r2 2. 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2 3. Nm2/kg2

4. No 5. 9.8 m/s2 6. m/s2 7. g =

8. Decreases 9. mg/4 10. poles

11. Gravitational force 13. Both 14. decreases 15. zero
23. 1.6 × 10–8 N 24. 16 times 25. 490 N 28. 1. 6675 × 10–5N
29. 3.92 m/s2 30. 245 N 34. 1800 : 1 35. 81.9 N

EXERCISE-2

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