SELF TEST ANSWERS
1. Gravitation
Q. 1. Gravitational force between two particles does not depend on the medium between
them.
Q. 2. True.
GM
Q. 3.
(c) g
(R h)2
Q. 4.
Newton’s universal law of gravitation: Every object in the Universe attracts
every other object with a definite force. This force is directly proportional to the
product of the masses of the two objects and inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between them.
Mathematical form : Consider two objects of masses m1 and m2. We assume that
the objects are very small spheres of uniform density and the distance r between
their centres is very large compared to the radii of the spheres (Fig.).
Gravitational force between two objects
The magnitude (F) of the gravitational force of attraction between the objects is
directly proportional to m1m2 and inversely proportional to r2.
m1m2 m1m2
F 2 FG ,
r r2
where G is the constant of proportionality, called the universal gravitational constant.
Q. 5. (1) The motion of a body falling in air is accelerated due to the earth’s gravitational
force on the body. The force due to buoyancy of air acts on the body in the
upward direction. Thus, it opposes the downward motion of the body. As the
body falls, the friction with air opposes its motion.
(2) This opposition due to air depends on the size, shape, density and velocity of
the body. It is greater for a feather than for a stone. Hence, the stone has greater
SELF TEST : SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PART 1) (ANSWERS : CHAPTER 1 ) 1
downward acceleration than the feather. Therefore, the stone reaches the
ground earlier than the feather though they are released simultaneously from
the same height.
Q. 6. Data : T 3.156 × 107 s, r 1.5 × 1011 m, v ?
2 r 2 3.142 1.5 1011m
v
T 3.156 107s
2.987 104 m/s
29.87 km/s
This is the speed of revolution of the earth.
Q. 7. Data : m 20 kg, g 9.8 m/s2, R 6400 km 6.4 × 106 m
(i) The gravitational potential energy of the body
( g )
GMm GM
mgR
R R2
– 20 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × 6.4 × 106 m
– 1.2544 109 J.
(ii) To make the body free from the gravitational influence of the earth, it should
be provided kinetic energy equal to 1.2544 109 J.
Q. 8. The value of the acceleration due to gravity, g, changes from place to place on the
earth. It also varies with the altitude and depth below the earth’s surface. The
factors affecting the value of g are the shape of the earth, altitude and depth below
the earth’s surface.
(1) The earth is not perfectly spherical. It is somewhat flat at the poles and bulging
at the equator. At the surface of the earth, the value of g is maximum
(9.832 m/s2) at the poles as the polar radius is minimum, while it is minimum
(9.78 m/s2) at the equator as the equatorial radius is maximum.
(2) As the height (h) above the earth’s surface increases, the value of g decreases.
1
It varies as where R is the radius of the earth.
(R h)2
(3) In the interior of the earth, on the average, the value of g is less than that at
the earth’s surface. As the depth below the earth’s surface increases, the value
of g decreases and finally it becomes zero at the centre of the earth.
2 SELF TEST : SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PART 1) (ANSWERS : CHAPTER 1 )
Q. 9. Here, we shall not consider the effects of air. Suppose a body of mass m is
(i)
thrown vertically upward from the surface of the earth. Let the initial velocity
of the body be the escape velocity (vesc).
When the body is on the earth’s surface, its total energy
E1 kinetic energy potential energy
mv2esc ( ),
1 GmM
where G universal gravitational constant,
2 R
M mass of the earth and R radius of the earth.
1 GmM
Thus, E1 mv2esc .
2 R
When the body moves to infinity and comes to rest there, its total energy,
E2 m(zero)2 ( ) 0 0 0.
1 GmM
2
According to the law of conservation of energy, E1 E2.
1 GmM
mv2esc 0
2 R
1 GM
v2esc
2 R
vesc ij
2GM
R
This is the required expression.
Escape velocity, vesc ij
2GM
(ii)
R
GM
Now, g
R2
GM gR2
mn2gR.
2gR2
vesc ij
R
(iii) Escape velocity, vesc ij
2GM
R
mass
The earth’s density,
volume
M
( ) R3
4
3
SELF TEST : SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PART 1) (ANSWERS : CHAPTER 1 ) 3
4
M R3
3
vesc ij
2G(4/3) R3
R
mn2G(4/3) R2
2
2Rij G .
3
4 SELF TEST : SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PART 1) (ANSWERS : CHAPTER 1 )
