Gravitatio

n
Newton’s Universal Law of
Gravitation
 𝐅 ∝ 𝐦𝟏 𝐦𝟐 𝐅∝
𝟏
𝟐
The force of 𝐫
attraction between r
any two bodies is
directly proportional
to the product of their 𝐦𝟏𝐦𝟐
masses and inversely 𝐅∝
𝐫𝟐
proportional to
𝐦𝟏 𝐦 𝟐
square of the 𝐅 =𝐆 𝟐
distance between 𝐫
them G = Universal Gravitational
Constant
G=

Newton’s Universal Law of

Evidences
in
Support
of
Newton’s
Universal
Law of
Gravitatio
n
 It explains
motion of Evidences
heavenly in
bodies like, Support
sun, planets
of
and the
moon. Newton’s
Universal
Law of
Gravitatio
n
 Predictions of
It explains solar and
motion of Evidences lunar
heavenly in eclipses
bodies like, Support based on this
sun, planets law came out
of
and the perfect.
moon. Newton’s
Universal
Law of
Gravitatio
n
 Predictions of
It explains solar and
motion of Evidences lunar
heavenly in eclipses
bodies like, Support based on this
sun, planets law came out
of
and the perfect.
moon. Newton’s
Universal
Law of
Gravitatio
Formation of
Tides
n
 Predictions of
It explains solar and
motion of Evidences lunar
heavenly in eclipses
bodies like, Support based on this
sun, planets law came out
of
and the perfect.
moon. Newton’s
Universal
Law of
GravitatioPredictions of
orbits and
Formation of n
time period
Tides
based on this
law were
correct.
Law of Gravitation in Vector Form
m1 m 2 r
⃗
F 12 =G 2
r^21
r

m1 m2
⃗
F 21 =G 2
r^
12
r

On comparing the equations

⃗ =− ⃗
𝐅 𝐅 𝟐𝟏
𝟏𝟐
Characteri
stics of
Gravitatio
nal Forces
These are
always
forces of
attraction Characteri
stics of
Gravitatio
nal Forces
They form an
action-
reaction pair.
Characteri
stics of
Gravitatio
These are
nal Forces
always
forces of
attraction
 These are
central
forces
Characteri
stics of
Gravitatio
They form an nal Forces
action-
reaction pair.
These are
always
forces of
 Does not
depend upon
the property
of medium
between the
bodies. Characteri
stics of
These are Gravitatio
central nal Forces
forces These are
always
forces of
They form an
attraction
action-
reaction pair.
Universal Gravitational Constant
𝐦𝟏 𝐦 𝟐
𝐅 =𝐆 Unit
𝐫𝟐 𝐍𝐦 𝟐
𝟐 𝐆=
𝐅𝐫 𝐤𝐠 𝟐
𝐆=
𝐦𝟏𝐦𝟐 Dimensional Formula
Taking,
]
𝐆=𝐅
The gravitational Constant is numerically equal to the force
with which two particles, each of unit mass and placed a unit
distance apart, attract each other.
 Acceleration
due to gravity
GRAVITY is the force by
which earth attracts a body
towards its centre.

ACCELERATION is the rate

of change of velocity

ACCELERATION DUE TO
GRAVITY is the rate of
change of velocity of a
freely falling body, due to
the effect of gravity.
 It is equal to the Does not
depend
magnitude of force
exerted by the earth on CGS Unit - on shape
and size
a body of unit mass. of body.

g = 9.81 It is denoted by g S.I. Unit -

Is not a
Dimensional Formula
g = 980 constant
quantity.

Acceleration due to gravity

Relation between ‘g’ and ‘G’
 Relation between ‘g’ and ‘G’
Force of attraction acting on
the body due to the earth 𝐦𝐌
𝐅 =𝐆 𝟐
𝐫
Weight of the body, due to
𝐅
acceleration due to gravity
= 𝐦𝐠
On combining the equations m
𝐦𝐌
𝐦𝐠 = 𝐆 𝟐
𝐫
𝐌
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐 𝐌
𝐫
Variation in the value of acceleration due
to gravity
(i) Effect of
m
Altitude
𝐦 𝐌𝐄
At the earth’s 𝐦𝐠 = 𝐆 𝟐
surface 𝐑𝐄
𝐌𝐄
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐
h
𝐑𝐄
𝐦 𝐌𝐄
At height h above 𝐦𝐠 ′ =𝐆
𝟐
the surface ( 𝐑 + 𝐡 )𝐄

𝐌𝐄
𝐌 𝐑𝐄
𝐠 ′ =𝐆 𝟐
( 𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 + 𝐡 ) ¿
 𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐄 (i) Effect of
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐 𝐠 ′ =𝐆 𝟐
𝐑𝐄 ( 𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 + 𝐡 ) ¿ Altitude
𝐠′ 𝟏
On comparing the =
𝐠 𝐡 𝟐
equations𝐆 𝐌𝐄 (𝟏 ¿ ¿ + ) ¿
𝐑𝐄
𝐠 ′ = ( 𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 + 𝐡 )𝟐 ¿
𝐠 𝐆 𝐌𝐄 𝐠
𝐠′ =
𝐑 𝐄𝟐 (𝟏 ¿ ¿ +
𝐡 𝟐
) ¿
𝐑𝐄
𝟐
𝐑𝐄
= 𝟐
(𝐑 ¿ ¿ 𝐄 + 𝐡 ) ¿ 𝐠 <𝐠
′

𝐠′ 𝐑𝐄𝟐
=
𝐠 𝟐 𝐡 𝟐
𝐑𝐄 (𝟏 ¿ ¿ + ) ¿
𝐑𝐄
Variation in the value of acceleration due
to gravity
(i) Effect of
m
Depth
𝐦 𝐌𝐄
At the earth’s 𝐦𝐠 = 𝐆 𝟐
surface 𝐑𝐄
𝐌𝐄
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐
h
𝐑𝐄
𝐦 𝐌𝐄
At height h above 𝐦𝐠 ′ =𝐆
𝟐
the surface ( 𝐑 + 𝐡 )𝐄

𝐌𝐄
𝐌 𝐑𝐄
𝐠 ′ =𝐆 𝟐
( 𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 + 𝐡 ) ¿
Variation in the value of acceleration due
to
(ii) gravity
Effect of
Depth
𝐦 𝐌𝐄
At the earth’s 𝐦𝐠 = 𝐆 𝟐
surface 𝐑𝐄
𝐌𝐄
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐 h
𝐑𝐄
𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 , 𝐌𝐄= 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 × 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 m
𝟒 𝟑
𝐌𝐄 = 𝛑 𝐑 𝐄 × 𝛒 𝐑𝐄
𝟑
𝟒 𝟑
𝛑 𝐑𝐄 × 𝛒
𝐠= 𝐆
𝟑
𝐑𝐄 𝟐 𝐌
 𝟒 𝟑
(ii) Effect of
𝛑 𝐑𝐄 × 𝛒
𝟑
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐 Depth
𝐑𝐄
𝟒 𝛑 𝐑𝐄𝛒𝐦
𝐠=
𝟑
𝐦 𝐌 ′𝐄 h
At depth h 𝐦𝐠 ′=𝐆 𝟐
( 𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 − 𝐡 ) ¿ m
𝐌′𝐄
𝐠= 𝐆 𝟐
𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄
𝟑
𝟒 (𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 − 𝐡 ) × 𝛒
𝐠= 𝐆 𝛑 ¿
𝟑 (𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 − 𝐡) ¿𝟐 𝐌
 𝟑 (ii) Effect of
𝟒 (𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 − 𝐡 ) × 𝛒
𝐠= 𝐆 𝛑 ¿ Depth
𝟑 (𝐑 ¿¿ 𝐄 − 𝐡) ¿𝟐

𝐑𝐄

𝐌
Variation in the (i) The shape of
value of ‘g’ with earth
latitude on the
surface of earth
Variation in the (ii) The spin
value of ‘g’ with motion of earth
latitude on the
surface of earth
Mass and
Density of
Earth
Weight of a
Body
 Gravitational
Field
The gravitational field is the space around a mass or an assembly of
masses over which it can exert gravitational forces on other masses.

Gravitational Field
Intensity
The intensity of gravitational field at the given point is equal to the
gravitational force experienced by a particle of unit mass, placed at
that point. 𝐅
𝐈= 𝐦
Unit Dimensional Formula
𝐦𝐌
𝐍 / 𝐤𝐠 −𝟏 𝐆 [ 𝐌 ¿ ¿ 𝟎 𝐋 𝐓 ]¿
−𝟐
𝐑𝟐
𝐈=
𝐦
𝐌
𝐈= 𝐆
𝐑𝟐
 Relation
Gravitational Intensity and acceleration
Between
due to gravity
Gravitational
Gravitational potential at a point in the gravitational
field is the amount of work done in bringing a unit
Potential mass from infinity to that point without
acceleration.
𝐖
𝐕=
𝐦
It is a scalar quantity.

Unit

Dimensional Formula
𝟐 −𝟐
¿
[ 𝐌 ¿ 𝟎 𝐋 𝐓 ]¿
 Expression for
Gravitational Potential of
Point Mass 𝐏
P 𝟏
O
r
dx

x
 Relation
Gravitational Potential and
Between
Gravitational Intensity
Gravitatio The gravitational potential energy of a particle at a
given point of the field is equal to the amount of
nal work done in bringing the particle from infinity to
that point of the field.
Potential M
P 𝐀 𝐁
Expressi
Energy O
m

on r
dx
x
Satellit The secondary bodies which revolve around the
planets are called satellites.

es
Natural
Satellites
Moon is the natural satellite of earth.
The orbits of satellites are elliptical, but for ease of calculation, it is
supposed to be circular.

Artificial
Satellites
The man made bodies, revolving around the earth are called artificial
satellite.
Satellites transmit signals, help in studying the atmosphere, weather
forecast, geological information, etc.
Orbital Speed The orbital velocity of a satellite is the velocity
required to establish the satellite into its orbit
around the earth.

When a satellite orbits around the earth, the necessary

centripetal force required to move into a circular path is
obtained from the gravitational force exerted by the earth
on the satellite. The gravitational force on the satellite at
any point in the orbit is always directed towards the centre
of earth and is equal to the necessary centripetal force.
This is the principle of orbiting of satellite round the earth.
Orbital
Velocit h

Expression
y R
Orbital
Velocitof a satellite near
y earth’s surface
Period
of
Revolut
ion
Escape The minimum velocity with which a particle is thrown away
from the earth’s surface, crosses its gravitational field and
Velocit never returns back to earth is called the escape velocity of
the earth.
y
If a particle is projected upwards from the surface of the
earth with a velocity equal to the escape velocity, its initial
kinetic energy will be equal to the amount of work done
against the gravitational force of the earth.
Escape P

Velocit Q
dx

Expression
y x
A

R
 Relation
Escape
between
Velocity
and Orbital
Velocity
Geostation
ary
Satellite
 Polar
Satellite
Weightles
sness
Every planet revolves around the sun
in an elliptical orbit with sun at one of
its foci.
Law of
Ellipti
cal
Orbits
Kepler’s
First Law o
Planetary
Motion
 Kepler’s The radius vector drawn from the sun
to a planet, sweeps out equal areas
Second Law in equal interval of time i.e., its real
velocity (or the area swept out per
of unit time) is constant

Planetary
Motion

Law of
Area
 The square of time-period of revolution of the
planet around the sun is proportional to the
Kepler’s
cube of the average distance of the planet from
the sun.
Third Law
𝟐 𝟑
𝐓 ∝𝐫 of
Planetary
𝟐 𝟑
𝐓 =𝐊 𝐫
Motion
Law of
Periods
Newton’s law of
gravitation 𝐯 =𝟐𝐆𝐌 Derivation
𝐌𝐦 𝐫
𝐅 =𝐆 of Kepler’s
from
𝟐 If the revolution is T
𝐫
𝐯 =𝛚 𝐫=
𝟐𝛑𝐫 Law
𝐓
Centripetal Force
𝟐 𝟐
𝐯 =
𝟒𝛑 𝐫
𝟐 𝟐 Newton’
𝐦𝐯
𝐅=
𝐫
𝐓𝟐
On comparing
s law of
As, necessary centripetal
force is provided by the
𝐆𝐌 𝟒 𝛑𝟐 𝐫 𝟐
𝐫
=
𝐓𝟐
Gravitat
ion
gravitational force
𝟒𝛑 𝐫𝟐 𝟑 𝐓 =𝐊 𝐫
𝟐 𝟑
𝐦 𝐯 𝟐 𝐆𝐌𝐦 𝐓𝟐 =
= 𝟐 𝟑
𝐫 𝐫𝟐 𝐆𝐌
𝟐
𝐓 ∝𝐫
𝟒𝛑
𝐓𝟐 = 𝐫𝟑
𝐆𝐌
 𝐦𝟏 𝐦 𝟐 𝐅
𝐅 =𝐆 𝐈=
𝐫𝟐 ′ 𝟐 𝐦
𝐠 =𝐠 − 𝐑 𝛚
𝐆𝐌 𝐆𝐌𝐦
𝐠= 𝐔 =−
𝐫
𝐑 𝟐
𝐠′ 𝐑 𝟐
=
𝐠 ( 𝐑 + 𝐡 )𝟐
𝐠∝
𝐑
𝟏
𝟐
𝐠′
𝐠 (
= 𝟏−
𝟐𝐡
𝐑 )
𝐆𝐌
=( 𝟏−
𝐑)
𝐦𝐯 𝟐
𝐕 =− 𝐠′ 𝐡
𝐅= 𝐫
𝐫 𝐠
 1. Two masses each of 5 kg are kept 0.5 m apart. Calculate the force
of attraction between them.
Numerical
Problems
 2. The mass of the moon is kg and its radius is m. Calculate the
value of acceleration due to gravity at the moon.
Numerical
Problems
 3. The radius of the earth is and the acceleration due to gravity at its
surface is 9.8 . If the value of the gravitational constant is , then
calculate the mass of earth.
Numerical
Problems
 4. The distance between the two similar spheres is 1m. If the force of
attraction between them is 1 N, then find the mass of each sphere.
(Given, G = 6.67 )
Numerical
Problems
 5. Two bodies of 40 kg and 80 kg are kept at a distance of 0.15m. The
force acting between them is 10mg-wt. Calculate the value of G.
Numerical
Problems
 6. The mass and radius of the earth are 100 times and 5 times that of
moon respectively. The weight of a body on earth is W, what will be its
weight on the moon?
Numerical
Problems
 7. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon, if
radius of moon is 1/4 and mass is 1/80 that of the earth.
Numerical
Problems
 8. If the radii of two planets are and their densities are and and
acceleration due to gravity at their surfaces are and respectively.
Prove that:
Numerical
Problems
 9. If the earth’s radius shrinks by 1% without change in its mass.
What will be the increase in g at its surface?
Numerical
Problems
 10. If the diameter of earth becomes double and its mass does not
change, then how does the weight of a body change?
Numerical
Problems
 11. Calculate the value of g at a height of 3200 km, above the earth’s
surface. Given, g = and R = 6400 km)
Numerical
Problems
 12. At what depth down the earth’s surface, the value of acceleration
due to gravity becomes (i) Half, (ii) 1/4 times that of surface. The
radius of earth is 6400 km.
Numerical
Problems
 13. At what depth down the surface of earth, the value of acceleration
due to gravity becomes 5% of its value at the surface of earth? Given,
radius of earth = 6400 km.
Numerical
Problems
 14. Calculate the percentage decrease in the weight of the body,
when taken to a height of 32 km above the surface of earth. Given,
Radius is earth = 6400 km
Numerical
Problems
 15. What should be the angular speed of earth, so that the bodies
lying on equator may appear weightless? (Given, g = 10 and R =
6400 km)
Numerical
Problems
 16. In the gravitational field, 40 N force acts on 4.0 kg mass, placed at
a point. Find the intensity of gravitational field at this point.
Numerical
Problems
 17. Calculate the gravitational potential and potential energy at a
point from the centre of earth on 67 kg mass. Mass of earth is and G
= 6.67
Numerical
Problems
 18. Two objects of masses and are situated at 4m apart. Calculate
the gravitational potential at the centre of the line joining the two
objects.
Numerical
Problems
 19. Two objects of masses and are situated at 1m apart. At what
position from mass, the gravitational field intensity will be zero?
Numerical
Problems
 √
𝟏 𝟐
𝐓 ∝𝐫 𝟑
𝐆𝐌 𝐊 . 𝐄 .= 𝐦 𝐯 𝟎𝟐

𝐯 𝐨= 𝟐
(𝐑 + 𝐡 ) 𝐓𝟏𝟐 𝟑
𝐫𝟏
𝐆𝐌𝐦 = 𝟑
Formulas

𝐏 . 𝐄 .= 𝐓𝟐 𝟐
𝐫𝟐
𝐯 𝐨 =𝛚 ( 𝐑 + 𝐡 ) 𝐑+𝐡
𝐯𝐨 𝟐𝝅 𝟒
= 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 = 𝛑 𝒓 𝟑 × 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚
(𝐑 +𝐡 ) 𝐓 𝟑
𝟐
𝐦𝐯

√𝟐 𝐆𝐌 𝐅 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 =
𝐯 𝐞= 𝐫
( 𝐑 + 𝐡)
 20. An artificial satellite is launched at a height of 2620 km from the
surface of the earth. Calculate its orbital velocity and period of
revolution. (Given, R=6380 km, G=, M=
Numerical
Problems
 21. If the radius of the moon is and its mass is , then calculate the
escape velocity from the surface of the moon.
Numerical
Problems
 22. If the mass of Jupiter is 318 times that of the earth and its radius
is 11.2 times that of the earth. If the escape velocity on the earth’s
surface is 11.2 km/s. Calculate its value on the Jupiter’s surface.
Numerical
Problems
 23. A satellite is revolving round the earth at a height of 500km above
its surface. Calculate the following:
(i) Its kinetic energy (ii) Its potential energy (iii) Its total energy
(Given, mass of the satellite = 300kg, mass of earth = , radius of the
Numerical

earth = and G =
Problems
 24. A satellite is revolving round the earth at a height of 400 km
above its surface. What amount of energy must be spent to pull the
satellite out of the earth’s gravitational field?
(Given, mass of the satellite = 200kg, mass of earth = , radius of the
Numerical

earth = and G =
Problems
 25. Two metal balls of same radii and masses are kept in contact with
each other. Then prove that the force of attraction between them is
directly proportional to the fourth power of radius.
Numerical
Problems
 26. A satellite of mass m is orbiting in an orbit of radius r. Prove that
the relation between the angular momentum L with respect to the
centre of orbit and mass of earth M will be
Numerical
Problems
 27. A satellite of lower mass is revolving around a planet of heavy
mass, with R as the radius of orbit, with T as the period of revolution.
If the gravitational force varies as , then show that will be
proportional to
Numerical
Problems
 28. Saturn’s year is 29.5 times that of earth. If the distance of earth
from the sun is , then calculate the distance of Saturn from the sun.
Numerical
Problems
 29. The distance of planet A from the sun is three times that of the
distance of planet B from the sun. If the time period of B is 6 months,
then find the time period of A.
Numerical
Problems
 30. The distance of Neptune and Saturn from the sun are and metres
respectively. Find the ratio of their time periods and orbital velocities.
Numerical
Problems