Vesu, Surat
Class-9
Subject- Physics
Prepared by:- Darshil Patel
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9. GRAVITATION
We know that –
1. The moon goes around the earth.
2. An object when thrown upwards, reaches a certain height and then falls downwards.
Now the question is why is that so?
Newton conjectured that the same type of force is responsible in both the cases. He
argued that at each point of its orbit, the moon falls towards the earth, instead of going off in a
straight line. So, it must be attracted by the earth. But we do not really see the moon falling
towards the earth. The force that causes this acceleration and keeps the body moving along the
circular path is acting towards the centre. This force is called the centripetal (meaning ‘centre-
seeking’) force.
The motion of the moon around the earth is due to the centripetal force. The centripetal force
is provided by the force of attraction of the earth. If there were no such force, the moon would
pursue a uniform straight line motion.
Universal Law of Gravitation
Every object in the universe attracts every
other object with a force which is proportional to the
product of their masses and inversely proportional to
the square of the distance between them. The force
is along the line joining the centres of two objects.
Let two objects A and B of masses M and m lie at a distance d from each other as shown
in figure. Let the force of attraction between two objects be F. According to the universal law of
gravitation, the force between two objects is proportional-
To the product of their masses
⇒ F ∝ M x m ……………….1
And to the square of the distance between them
⇒ F α 1/d2……………….…2
Combining Eq. 1 & 2 we get, ……………….3
Where G is the universal constant of gravitation, its value is 6.673x10−11 Nm2Kg−2,
This value is numerically equal the gravitational force acting between two bodies of unit mass,
kept at a unit distance from each other. As G = F d2 /Mm
G = F = 6.673x10−11 Nm2Kg−2 (when we take M = m = 1 kg and d = 1m)
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Importance of the Universal Law of Gravitation
The universal law of gravitation successfully explained several phenomena which were believed
to be unconnected:
(i) The force that binds us to the earth.
(ii) The motion of the moon around the earth.
(iii) The motion of planets around the Sun.
(iv) The tides due to the moon and the Sun.
Free Fall -Whenever an object falls towards the earth under the gravitational force alone (with
no other force is acting upon it, with negligible air resistance) the object is said to be in free fall.
Acceleration due to gravity
The acceleration in a freely falling object is due to the earth’s gravitational force. Therefore,
this acceleration is called the acceleration due to the gravitational force of the earth (or
acceleration due to gravity or gravitational acceleration). It is denoted by g. The unit of g is the
same as that of acceleration, that is, m s–2. g = 9.8 m/s2 is also called the Free-fall Acceleration.
We already know that there is acceleration involved in falling objects due to the
gravitational force and is denoted by g. Therefore the magnitude of the gravitational force F
will be equal to the product of mass and acceleration due to the gravitational force according
to Newton's second law, that is,
F = ma = mg ……………….4
Combining Eq. 3 & 4 we get,
where M is the mass of the earth, and d is the distance between the
object and the earth. Let an object be on or near the surface of the earth.
The distance d in above equation will be equal to R, the radius of the
earth. Thus, for objects on or near the surface of the earth,
OR ............... 5
For freely falling objects, ‘g’ does not depend on the mass of the body. All
objects small, big, heavy, light, hollow or solid fall at the same rate. The
earth is not a perfect sphere.
As the radius of the earth increases from the poles to the equator, So
Radius at equator Re > Radius at pole Rp .
As g ∝ 1/R2 , The value of g is more at poles and less at equator.
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To calculate the value of g
To calculate the value of g, we should put the values of G, M and R in Eq.5, namely,
universal gravitational constant, G = 6.7 × 10–11 N m2 kg-2, mass of the earth, M = 6 × 1024 kg,
and radius of the earth, R = 6.4 × 106 m.
Thus, the value of acceleration due to gravity of the earth, g = 9.8 m s–2.
Motion of objects under the influence of gravitational force of the earth
The equations of motion for an object with uniform acceleration are valid, where
acceleration ‘a' is replaced by ‘g', and ‘s' is replaced by ‘h' as ‘h' stands for height of the object
from the Earth's surface)
For downward motion a = g
v = u + gt
h = ut + (1/2) gt2
2 g h = v2 – u2
For upward motion a = -g
(When an object is thrown vertically upwards from earth's surface – the gravitational force of
earth acts in opposite direction of motion i.e. downwards, hence g is negative)
v = u – gt
h = ut – (1/2) gt2
–2 g h = v2 – u2
At maximum height hmax, v=0
∴ hmax = u2/2g
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Mass: Mass of an object is the measure of its inertia. It is the amount of matter present in it. It
remains the same everywhere in the universe. Denoted by ‘m'. S.I. unit kg.
Mass = Volume x Density. It is a Scalar quantity. Mass is measured by beam balance.
Weight: The force of attraction of the earth on the object is known as the weight of the object.
It’s S.I. unit is Newton. W = m x g. It is a vector quantity, always directed downwards. Weight is
measured by spring balance.
Mass Weight
Mass is defined as the quantity The weight of an object is the force by which the
of matter in an object. gravitational pull of earth attracts the object.
Mass is a scalar quantity Weight is a vector quantity
The mass of an object is always The weight of an object can vary at different locations
constant. because of change in gravitational force of the earth.
F = ma
where m = mass of object, a = acceleration due to gravity
Similarly, W is force, so
W = mg
Mass can never be zero Weight can be zero at places there is no gravitational
force
SI Unit: kg SI unit: N
Weight of an object on the Moon
Just like the Earth, the Moon also exerts a force upon objects. Hence, objects on moon also
have some weight. The weight will not be same as than on the earth.
Let the mass of an object be m. Let its weight on the moon be Wm. Let the mass of the moon
be Mm and its radius be Rm. By applying the universal law of gravitation, the weight of the
object on the moon will be
= 2.431 ×10 10 G ×m
The mass of the earth is M and its radius is R. The weight of the same object on the earth will
be
= 1.474 ×1011 G × m
So,
1
= = 0.165 =
6
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Thrust and Pressure
Thrust
The force that acts in the perpendicular direction is called thrust.
It is similar to force applied to an object
It is a vector quantity.
SI unit: Newton N.
Pressure
The thrust that acts per unit area of the object is pressure.
It is the thrust per unit area.
Pressure is denoted by ‘P'
P = thrust/ area = Perpendicular force/ area = F/A
SI unit: N/m2 or Pa (Pascal)
Pressure in Solids - They exert pressure on the surface because of their weight.
Pressure in Fluids (gases and liquids) – Fluids also have weight, therefore, they exert pressure
on the surface and the walls of the container in which they are put in. Pressure in fluid depends
only on height of column of fluid. Pressure exerted in any confined mass of fluid is transmitted
undiminished in all directions.
Buoyancy
Whenever an object is immersed in a liquid, the liquid exerts a buoyant force or up thrust in
the opposite direction of the gravitational force. This is also called the Force of Buoyancy.
Therefore an object is able to float in water when the gravitational force (Weight of object)
is equal to the buoyant force when it is partially immerse. If buoyant force is larger than the
gravitational force (Weight of object) the object rises up then floats when the gravitational
force (Weight of object) becomes equal to the buoyant force. Similarly, an object sinks into
the water when the gravitational force is larger than the buoyant force.
Archimedes Principle: When an object is fully or partially immersed in a fluid, the fluid exerts
an upward force (up thrust) upon the object. The magnitude of this force is equivalent to the
weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
As Weight W = mg and mass m = density x volume
Weight of fluid displaced = Buoyant force FB = mF g = DF VF g
VF = Volume of fluid displaced, DF is density of fluid, g = gravitational acceleration.
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If WO = FB (Balanced forces) If WO = FB (Balanced forces) If WO > FB (unbalanced forces)
Object is partially immersed Object is fully immersed Object is fully immersed
∴ DO VO g = DF VF g ∴ DO VO g = DF VF g ∴ DO VO g > DF VF g
∴ Do Vo = Df Vf __________(1) ∴ Do Vo = Df Vf __________(1) ∴ Do Vo > Df Vf __________(1)
Also object is partially Also object is fully immersed Also object is fully immersed
immersed in fluid. in fluid. in fluid.
∴ Volume of object > Volume ∴ Volume of object = ∴ Volume of object =
of fluid displaced Volume of fluid displaced Volume of fluid displaced
∴ VO > VF _______________(2) ∴ VO = VF _______________(2) ∴ VO = VF _______________(2)
Using eq. 2 in eq. 1 Using eq. 2 in eq. 1 Using eq. 2 in eq. 1
DO < DF DO = DF DO > DF
So if density of object is less So if density of object is So if density of object is
than density of fluid, object equal to density of fluid, more than density of fluid,
floats. Also if buoyant force is object can stay at anywhere object sinks.
greater than weight (WO < FB) below the surface of fluid.
the object rises until they e.g. Submarine can stay
became equal and then floats. balance at any depth e.g. Iron nail sinks in water
DF (Density of fluid) and g (gravitational acceleration) are generally constant, so to make
object float we need to increase its volume to displace required volume of fluid to float.
E.g. Density of material of Ship is more than water but their unique shape gives them a large
volume. Due to the large volume of the ship, the volume of water displaced by a ship is also
large, which provides it with the right up thrust so that it can float on water.
Submarines have a tank called Buoyancy Tank. When the submarine needs to be taken inside
water the tank is filled which increases the weight of the submarine. Similarly, when the tank
is emptied, the weight of the submarine becomes lighter and it rises above the water.
Archimedes Principle is useful in designing ships, submarines and making lactometers and
hydrometers.
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