CBSE Class 11 Physics - Gravitation Notes
CBSE Class 11 Physics - Gravitation Notes
CBSE Class 11 Physics - Gravitation Notes
com
Let two masses be m1 and m2 and r being the distance between them. Then according to the
Newton’s Law of gravitation,
F α m1 m2
And, F α 1 / r2
Therefore, F α (m1 m2) / r2
F = (G m1 m2) / r2
1. The earth and other planets go round the sun by virtue of this force.
2. Tides in the sea are result of gravitational force acting on sea water by sun and moon.
3. The time calculated for the launch of satellites is on the basis of gravitational force. If it
would have been wrong satellites could not be launched.
4. The prediction of solar and lunar eclipses is done on the basis of gravitational law
accurately.
Vector form of Newton’s Law of Gravitation: Let us take two bodies having masses m1 and
m2 and r being the distance between them.
Let F12 be the force exerted on m1 by m2 and F21 be the force exerted on m2 by m1.
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Therefore these two forces are equal and opposite of each other. Hence, this law is in accordance
with the Newton’s third law of motion. Hence the two make action reaction pair.
Gravity: If any body having mass is replaced by earth or a celestial body having a comparable
mass then gravitation is termed as gravity. OR Gravity is the force with which earth attracts
any body towards itself i.e. weight.
1. Gravity follows inverse square law as the force of gravitation is inversely proportional to
the square of distance between two objects.
2. Gravitational forced is a central force i.e. it acts along a line joining the centre of two
bodies.
3. It is a conservative force i.e. it does not depend upon the path followed by the two
objects.
4. Gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses of the objects
between which the force acts.
Acceleration due to gravity (g): Gravity is a force and hence some acceleration would be
produced due to it. The acceleration so produced is called acceleration due to gravity.
The acceleration experienced by an object falling freely only under the action of gravity is called
acceleration due of gravity.
Hence on the surface of earth, g = F / m = 9.8 m/s2 where ‘F’ is the gravitational force and ‘m’
is the mass of the object.
Relationship between g and G: Consider earth to be a perfect sphere of mass ‘M’ and radius
‘R’. Consider a body of mass ‘m’ be placed on its surface.
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Therefore ‘g’ does not depend upon mass of the body but depends only on the mass and radius of
the planet. Hence, all objects big or small, light or heavy fall at the same time from the same
height. Lighter objects fall slower than heavier objects due to the air resistance experienced by
them.
1. Shape of earth Earth is not a perfect sphere but bulges at equator. Therefore if a body
is taken from pole to equator its distance from the centre of the earth will change.
Consequently, the gravitational force also varies.
2. Altitude / Height from the surface of earth Let g be the value of acceleration due to
gravity at the surface of earth and g' at a height h above the surface of earth.
If the earth is considered as a sphere of homogeneous composition, then g at any point on
the surface of the earth is given by:
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This expression indicates that the acceleration due to gravity decreases with altitude.
3. Variation with depth Let g be the value of acceleration due to gravity at the surface of
earth and g' at a depth d below the surface of earth.
If the earth is considered as a sphere of homogeneous composition of density ρ, then g at
any point on the surface of the earth is given by:
Only the part of earth below the point will contribute gravitational force. Therefore,
4. Variation with Latitude and Earth’s Rotation The expression for variation of g with
rotation of earth and latitude is given as: g' = g [1 – (Re ω2 cos2 λ) / g] where ω stands for
angular velocity of earth’s rotation and λ stands for latitude at a point which is the angle
made by the line joining the point and the centre of the earth makes with the equatorial
plane.
(i) As per the relation we can see that acceleration due to gravity decreases with
increase in the angular velocity of rotation of earth.
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(ii) Also if λ increases then cos λ decreases increasing the value of g'. Therefore,
acceleration due to gravity increases with increase in latitude.
At poles, λ = 90° and cos 90° = 0 => g' = g
At equator, λ = 0° and cos 0° = 1 => g' = g – Re ω2 which means there is more
effect of rotation at equator than at poles.
Principle of Launching of satellite: Let earth be a perfect sphere of mass ‘M’ and radius ‘R’. If
a tower is constructed whose height is more than the atmospheric height and a body be projected
with a horizontal velocity ‘v’ then it reaches a point P on the surface of earth. If we keep
increasing the velocity then a velocity will be reached such that the body does not fall on the
surface of earth instead it starts orbiting around the earth. Then this velocity is called orbital
velocity. This is the principle of launching of a satellite where a satellite is launched from a great
height using a launch vehicle i.e. rocket with orbital velocity.
Orbital Velocity: Orbital velocity is the minimum velocity given to a body with which the body
starts orbiting around the earth in a circular path.
Let ‘m’ be the mass of satellite and ‘M’ is the mass of earth which is considered to be a sphere of
radius ‘R’ with centre ‘O’ and ‘r’ be the radius of the orbit. Let ‘h’ be the height of the orbit
above the surface of earth i.e. r = R + h
Centripetal force required for the satellite to go around the circular path
is given by, Fc = mvo2 / r --- (1)
This force is provided by gravitational force between satellite and
planet given by Newton’s law of gravitation i.e. F = G M m / r2 --- (2)
Equating (1) and (2), we get
mvo2 / r = G M m / r2
vo2 = G M / r
vo = √G M / r
Also G M = gR2 => Equating this relation in above equation we get
vo = √ [(gR2) / r] = √ [g R2 / (R + h)]
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Escape Velocity: The minimum velocity of projection provided to a body so that it can
escape the gravitational pull of the planet is called escape velocity.
W = - G M m [ 1/ - 1 / R]
Types of satellites: There are two types of satellites geostationary satellites and polar
satellites.
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1. Geostationary satellites: Satellites which have the same time period and same sense of
rotation as that of earth about its own axis. With respect to any point on earth the position
of geostationary satellites never change and always remain stationary.
Characteristics of a Geostationary Satellite:
(i) The time period of such satellites is 24 hours.
(ii) They have the same sense of rotation as that of earth i.e. west to east.
(iii) The orbit of the satellite is concentric and coplanar with the equatorial plane of
earth.
(iv) The height of the orbit from the surface of earth is 36000 km.
Applications: They are used as communication satellites and for weather reporting.
2. Polar satellites: The satellites which revolve in the polar orbits around the earth are
called polar satellites. Polar orbit is an orbit whose angle of inclination with equatorial
plane is 90°.
Characteristics of a Polar Satellite:
(i) Polar satellites have a low altitude and cross any location on earth many times in a
day.
(ii) The height of the orbit is about 500 km to 800 km from the surface of earth.
(iii) The time period of polar satellites is around 100 minutes.
Applications: They are used as communication satellites, forecasting weather, in
studying upper region of atmosphere, to determine exact shape and dimension of earth
and to study the cosmic rays and solar radiations.
Kepler’s Law of Planetary Motion: There are three laws of planetary motion given by Kepler.
(i) Law of orbits: It states that every planet revolves around sun in an elliptical orbit with
sun at one of its focus.
(ii) Law of areas: It states that the radius vector drawn from sun to planet sweeps out equal
areas in equal intervals of time.
Area P1SP2 = Area P3SP4
P1P2 < P3P4
Dividing by time,
P1P2 / t < P3P4 / t
Velocity of planet at P1 < Velocity of planet at P3
Therefore the linear velocity of planet increases when planet comes closer to the sun. This
law follows from the law of conservation of angular momentum.
(iii) Law of periods: It states that square of time period of revolution of a planet around sun
is directly proportional to cube of semi-major axis of elliptical orbit.
T2 α r3
Derivation of Newton’s Law of Gravitation from Kepler’s Law: Let the time period be ‘T’
and angular velocity ‘ω’, mass of planet ‘M’, radius of planet ‘R’ and radius of orbit ‘r’.
Now, ω = 2π / T
But, T2 α r3 => T2 = Kr3
The centripetal force acting on the planet, F = M r ω2
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F = M r 4π2 / T2
F = M r 4π2 / (Kr3)
F = (4π2 / K) (M / r2)
Now to get Newton’s formula of gravitational force 4π2 / K is directly proportional to M.
4π2 / K = GM
F = G M m / r2
Thus we can arrive at Newton’s formula of gravitation from Kepler’s law.
Gravitational Field: It is the modified area around a material body / mass in which its influence
can be felt due to the gravitational force it exerts i.e. when a mass is kept near another mass it
experiences a gravitational force of attraction which becomes zero when the other mass is taken
at a distance infinitely away from the first one.
Gravitational field extends up to infinity.
W= G M dx / x2 within limits x = to x = R
W = - G M [ 1/ x] within limits x = to x = R
W = - G M [1/ R – 1/ ]
W = - G M / R = Gravitational Potential
Potential is negative when force is attractive in nature and when it is positive the force is
repulsive in nature. Here the potential is negative implying gravitational force is attractive.
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Also gravitational potential increases as we move away from earth and the maximum value of
gravitational potential is zero when r = .
W= G M m dx / x2 from x = to x = R
U = - G M m [1 / x] from x = to x = R
U = - G M m [1 / - 1 / R]
U=-GMm/R
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