Physics
Class XI
Chapter 8 –GRAVITATION
Sample Paper-1
MM.30
General Instruction:
I. All questions are compulsory.
II. Question No. 1 to 3 carry one mark each.
III. Question No. 4 to 7 carries two marks each.
IV. Question No. 8 to 10 carries three marks each.
V. Question No.11 and 12 carries 5 marks.
Question 1:
(1)
Different points in earth are at slightly different distances from the sun and hence experience
different forces due to gravitation. For a rigid body, we know that if various forces act at various
points in it, the resultant motion is as if a net force acts on the c.m. (centre of mass) causing
translation and a net torque at the c.m. causing rotation around an axis through the c.m. For the
earth-sun system (approximating the earth as a uniform density sphere)
(a) the torque is zero.
(b) the torque causes the earth to spin.
(c) the rigid body result is not applicable since the earth is not even approximately a rigid body.
(d) the torque causes the earth to move around the sun.
Question 2:
(1)
Satellites orbiting the earth have finite life and sometimes debris of satellites fall to the earth. This is
because,
(a) the solar cells and batteries in satellites run out.
(b) the laws of gravitation predict a trajectory spiralling inwards.
(c) of viscous forces causing the speed of satellite and hence height to gradually decrease.
(d) of collisions with other satellites.
Question 3:
(1)
In our solar system, the inter-planetary region has chunks of matter (much smaller in size compared
to planets) called asteroids. They
(a) will not move around the sun since they have very small masses compared to sun.
(b) will move in an irregular way because of their small masses and will drift away into outer space.
(c) will move around the sun in closed orbits but not obey Kepler’s laws.
(d) will move in orbits like planets and obey Kepler’s laws
Question 4:
(2).
Give one example each of central force and non-central force.
Question 5: (2)
Molecules in air in the atmosphere are attracted by gravitational force of the earth. Explain why all
of them do not fall into the earth just like an apple falling from a tree.
Question 6: (2)
We can shield a charge from electric fields by putting it inside a hollow conductor. Can we shield a
body from the gravitational influence of nearby matter by putting it inside a hollow sphere or by
some other means?
Question 7: (2)
How is the gravitational force between two point masses affected when they are dipped in water
keeping the separation between them the same?
Question 8:
(3)
Show the nature of the following graph for a satellite orbiting the earth.
(a) KE vs orbital radius R
(b) PE vs orbital radius R
(c) TE vs orbital radius R.
Question 9:
(3)
A satellite is to be placed in equatorial geostationary orbit around earth for communication.
(a) Calculate height of such a satellite.
(b) Find out the minimum number of satellites that are needed to cover entire earth so that at least
one satellites is visible from any point on the equator.
Question 10: (3)
A star like the sun has several bodies moving around it at different distances. Consider that all of
them are moving in circular orbits. Let r be the distance of the body from the centre of the star and
let its linear velocity be v, angular velocity ω, kinetic energy K, gravitational potential energy U, total
energy E and angular momentum l. As the radius r of the orbit increases, determine which of the
above quantities increase and which ones decrease
Question 11: (5)
Earth’s orbit is an ellipse with eccentricity 0.0167. Thus, earth’s distance from the sun and speed as it
moves around the sun varies from day to day. This means that the length of the solar day is not
constant through the year. Assume that earth’s spin axis is normal to its orbital plane and find out
the length of the shortest and the longest day. A day should be taken from noon to noon. Does this
explain variation of length of the day during the year?
Question 12:
(5)
i) An object of mass m is raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the
radius of the earth, that is, taken from a distance R to 2R from the centre of the earth.
What is the gain in its potential energy?
ii) A mass m is placed at P a distance h along the normal through the centre O of a thin
circular ring of mass M and radius r.
If the mass is removed further away such that OP becomes 2h, by what factor the force
of gravitation will decrease, if h = r ?
