Revision Notes

Class 9 Science
Chapter 10 - Gravitation

• Toss a stone from a great height. What are your observations?

• The stone, which was at first at rest, begins to move towards the ground
and reaches its maximum speed right before it meets it.
• The stone is not travelling at a constant rate. Its speed fluctuates at all
times, indicating that the stone is accelerating.
• A force is necessary to cause an acceleration in a body, according to
Newton's second law of motion.
• The stone was not pushed or pulled in any way. What was the source of
the force?
• Sir Isaac Newton came up with the solution to this dilemma after seeing
an apple fall from a tree.
• His thesis was that the apple is attracted to the Earth, and the Earth is
attracted to the apple The Earth's force on the apple is enormous, and as a
result, the apple arrives on Earth.
• The apple, on the other hand, is unable to draw the Earth since the force it
exerts on it is insignificant.
• As a result, we can deduce that the acceleration caused by Earth's immense
force of attraction is the cause of the stone's acceleration.

• It is evident from the preceding example that this force of attraction ties

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 our complicated universe together, keeps the moon revolving around the
Earth, keeps all of the planets in their orbits around the Sun, and helps us
walk correctly on the Earth's surface.
• The force of gravitation, or gravitation, is a form of attraction that
exists between any two objects in the universe.
• The force of gravity or gravity is the attraction or gravitational force
between Earth (or any planet) and any other material objects in the
cosmos.

The Universal Law of Gravitation or Newton's Law of Gravitation:

• The universal law of gravitation is a mathematical relationship that Sir
Isaac Newton proposed to measure the gravitational force.
• According to this law “Every particle in the universe attracts every
other particle with a force which is directly proportional to the
product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between them, the direction of the force being along the
line joining the masses”.
• Consider two mass m1 and m 2 objects separated by a distance d . The
gravitational force F is proportional to the product of the masses,
according to Newton's law.
F  m1m 2 ...... (1)
and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the
1
masses F  2 ...... ( 2 )
d

Two Objects of Masses m1 and m 2 separated by a distance d .

Inversely proportional is always represented as directly proportional to the
reciprocal of that quantity.
Combining equation (1) and equation ( 2 ) , we get

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 m1m 2
F 
d2
Gm1m 2
F  ....... ( 3)
d2
Where G is a proportionality constant known as the universal
gravitational constant.
G is known as the universal constant because its value remains constant
throughout the cosmos and is unaffected by object masses.

Universal Gravitational Constant:

• The mathematical form of Newton's Law of Gravitation is
Gm1m 2
F=
d2
If m1 = m 2 = 1 , and d = 1 , then
G ×1×1
F=
12
F=G
• As a result, the universal gravitational constant can be defined as the
gravitational force that exists between two unit masses separated by a
unit distance.

• SI unit of gravitational constant:

Fd 2
G=
m1m 2
SI Unit of force F is N , SI unit of distance is metres and that of mass is
kg .
Nm 2
SI Unit of G =
kg  kg
m2
SI Unit of G = N 2 or Nm 2 kg −2
kg
Nm 2
The experimental value of G equal to 6.6734  1011 was measured
kg 2
by Sir Henry Cavendish in 1798 .

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Dependence of Gravitational Force on Mass:
The force of attraction is directly proportional to the mass of the body,
according to Newton's law of gravitation.

1. Two objects of mass m separated by a distance d :

If two objects of mass m are separated by a distance d , the force between

them is given by the relation are as follows;
Gmm
F1 =
d2
Gm 2
= 2
d

2. Two objects of mass m and 2m separated by a distance d :

When the mass of one of the two objects is doubled, force of attraction
is given by the relation are as follows;
Gm 2 m
F2 =
d2
2Gm 2
=
d2
= 2F1

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3. Two objects of mass 2m separated by a distance d :

When the masses of both bodies are doubled, the force of attraction is
given as;
Gmm
F3 = 2 2 2
d
4Gm 2
=
d2
= 4F1
That is whenever the mass increases the force of attraction also
increases.

Dependence of Gravitational Force on Distance:

The force of attraction between two bodies is inversely proportional to the
square of their distance, according to the universal law of gravitation.

1. Force of attraction between two bodies of mass m separated by a

distance d :

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 Gm1m 2
F1 =
d2
Gm 2
=
d2

Here, two bodies of mass m are separated by a distance d and hence,

Gm 2
F1 = 2
d

2. The force of attraction when the distance is doubled:

Gmm
F2 =
( 2d )
2

Gm 2
=
4d 2
Here, two bodies of mass m are separated by a distance 2d and therefore,
1 Gm 2
F2 =
4 d2
1
F2 = F1
4

3. Force of attraction when the distance between the bodies is increased

three times:

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 Gmm
F3 =
( 3d )
2

Gm 2
=
9d 2
Here, two bodies of mass m are separated by a distance 3d and therefore,
1 Gm 2
F3 =
9 d2
1
F3 = F1
9
It results that
1
a) When the distance is doubled, the force is decreased to th of its
4
original value.
1
b) If the distance is extended three times, the force is reduced to th of
9
its original value.
c) We can conclude from the preceding example that the force of attraction
between the bodies varies inversely with the square of distance
between them.

Gravitational Force between two Light Objects:

Let us now calculate the force of gravitation existing between two unit masses
separated by a unit distance.
m1 = 1 kg
m 2 = 1 kg
d=1m
Nm 2
G = 6.6734  10 -11

kg 2
Therefore, force can be calculated as;
Gm1m 2
F=
d2
6.6734  10-11×1×1
F=
12
F = 6.6734  10-11 N

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This is a very weak force.

To find Force existing between two objects of masses 60 kg and 100 kg

separated by a distance of 1 m :

Gm1m 2
F=
d2
6.6734  10-11×60×100
F=
12
F = 6.6734  10-8  6
F = 40.04  10-8 N
This is also a very weak force.
It is clear from the preceding two examples why we do not feel the force
produced by one object (on the Earth's surface) on the other.

Gravitational Force between Massive Objects:

Let's calculate the force of attraction between a 50 kg object and the Earth. The
Earth's mass is approximately 6  1024 kg . The Earth's distance from the object
is roughly 64 105 m .
The force of attraction between the object and the Earth is,
Gm1m 2
F=
d2
6.6734  10-11×6  1024 ×50
=
( 64  105 )
2

6.6734×6×5  10−11  1025

=
( 64 )  1010
2

6.6734×6×5  10−11  1025  10−10

=
64  64
Therefore,
6.6734×6×5  104
F=
64  64
6.6734×3  105
=
64  64
F = 488.7 N
This force is strong, we cannot ignore it.
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Now let us calculate the force of attraction between Earth and the Sun. The mass
of the Earth = 6  1024 kg
The mass of the Sun = 1.99  1030 kg
The distance between the Earth and the Sun = 15 1010 m
Therefore,
Gm1m 2
F=
d2
6.6734  10-11×6  1024 ×1.99  1030
=
(15 1010 )
2

6.6734×6×1.99  10−11  1024  1030  10−20

=
225
Hence,
6.6734×6×1.99  1023
F=
225
F = 3.541×1022 N
This force is very large and it is this force which keeps the planets in their
respective orbits.

Conclusion:
When two objects of ordinary size are considered, the gravitational force is quite
tiny, but when at least one of the items is huge, the force is very large.

Centre of Gravity:
• Every particle is drawn to the centre of the earth, as we all know. A body
is made up of number of particles. Because the body is small in
comparison to the earth, the gravitational attraction acting on these
particles can be considered parallel to one another, as illustrated in the
diagram.

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• A single force acting vertically in the downward direction can be
replaced by a single force acting through a fixed location called the
body's centre of gravity.
• The resulting force is equivalent to the body's weight.
• As a result, the centre of gravity is the point through which the body's
weight acts regardless of its position.
• For bodies which are of regular shape and which have uniform density,
the centre of gravity lies at the geometrical centre of the body.
• The geometrical centre of gravity of bodies of regular shape and
uniform density is located at the geometrical centre of the body.

Application of Newton's Law of Gravitation:

• One of the important applications of Newton's law is to estimate masses
of binary stars. A binary star is a system of two stars orbiting round their
common centre of mass.
• Any irregularity in the motion of a star indicates that it might be another
star or a planet going round the stars. This regularity in the motion of a
star is called a wobble.

Mass and Weight:

• Mass and weight are sometimes confused, yet they are two distinct
numbers. Let's try to figure out what makes them different.
• Mass of a body is defined as the amount of matter contained in it.
• The kilogramme is the SI unit of mass ( kg ) .
• Mass is a scalar quantity.
• The amount of matter contained in a body does not vary with time or
location, i.e., the mass of a body remains constant throughout the cosmos.
However, the masses of two bodies might differ significantly.
• A pan balance is used to determine a person's mass.
• Weight is defined as the force with which an object is pulled towards
the centre of the Earth.
• Weight of a body = force exerted by the Earth = mg (according to
• Newton's second law of motion)
• W = mg
SI unit of weight is Newton.
For example, the weight of a body having a mass of 1kg is

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 W = mg
W = 1  9.8
W = 9.8 N
• We know that kg wt is commonly used as the unit of weight.
• 1kg weight is the force with which an object of mass 1kg is pulled
towards the Earth.
W = mg
1 kg wt = 1  9.8
1 kg wt = 9.8 N
• Spring balance is used to determine weight.
• Weight fluctuates from location to place because it is affected by gravity's
acceleration.
• At the poles, a body weighs more than in the equator, and at the centre
of the Earth, a body's weight becomes zero because gravity's
acceleration is zero

Difference between Mass and Weight:

Mass Weight
It is the amount of matter contained It is the force with which an object
in an object is pulled towards the Earth
The mass of a body is constant Weight varies from place to place
throughout the universe as g varies

Mass can never be equal to zero Weight can be equal to zero

Mass is a scalar quantity Weight is a vector quantity

SI unit of mass is kg SI unit of weight is Newton

1 th
To show that weight of a body on moon is its weight on Earth:
6
• Let m be the mass of a body on Earth. Its weight on Earth is given by the
equation is as follows;
We = mg e
mGM e
We = ---- (1)
R e2
Since,

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  GM e 
g e = 
 R e2 
The weight of the same body on moon ( Wm ) is given by,
Wm = mg m
mGM m
Wm = ---- ( 2 )
R m2
Since,
 GM m 
 g m = 
 R m2 
By dividing equation ( 2 ) by equation (1) we get,
Wm mGM m R e2
= 
We R m2 mGM e
Wm M m R e 2
=
We R m 2 M e
2
Wm  M m  R e 
=   ---- ( 3)
We  M e   R m 
But we know that , M e = 100M m and R e = 4R m , therefore
Mm 1
=
Me 100
Re
=4
Rm
By substituting above values in equation ( 3) , we get
Wm  1  2
=  ( 4)
We  100 
Wm 16
=
We 100
Wm 1
=
We 6.25
Wm 1
=
We 6
1
Wm = We
6
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 1
That is the weight of a body on moon is th its weight on Earth.
6

Weightlessness:
• We frequently hear that astronauts in space experience weightlessness.
What exactly does this imply?
• Let us show weightlessness with a simple experiment. Suspend a stone
from a spring balance, and the weight of the stone is displayed on the
spring balance's pointer.
• Allow the stone, as well as the spring balance, to fall freely.
• The spring balance registers 0 weight, showing that the stone is devoid of
weight.
• Does this imply that the stone has no weight?
• The stone, on the other hand, is in a state of weightlessness because it is
falling freely.
• When the weight of one object is balanced against the weight of another,
the body becomes aware of its own weight.

• Let us now attempt to explain why an astronaut in a spaceship feels

weightless.
• When an astronaut is orbiting the Earth in a spaceship, both the person
and the spaceship are in free fall towards the Earth.
• During a free fall, both go downhill with the same acceleration, which is

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 equal to gravity's acceleration.
• As a result, the astronaut exerts no force on the spaceship's sides or floor,
and the spaceship's sides and floor do not push the astronaut up.
• As a result, the astronaut feels weightless while orbiting the Earth in a
spaceship.

Density:
• Cotton takes up more room than iron, hence 0.5 kg of cotton takes up
more space than 0.5 kg of iron.
• Iron particles are tightly packed, whereas cotton particles are loosely
packed. There is more iron packed into a given volume.
• This explains why iron is heavier than cotton of the same volume.
• A substance's density is defined as the mass per unit volume of the
substance.
Mass of the substance
• Density =
Volume of the substance
M
D=
v
Where, D represents the density, M mass and v volume.
kg
SI unit of density is 3
m
• When specific criteria are met, a substance's density remains constant.
• As a result, one of a material's distinguishing characteristics is its density,
which may be used to determine the purity of any substance.

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Relative Density of a Substance:
M
• We utilise the relation D = to determine the density of a substance or
v
an item by determining the mass and volume of the substance.
• Only if the thing has a regular shape is this possible.
• Measuring the size of an object with an irregular shape is difficult.
• In such instances, we express the object's density in terms of water density.
• The relative density of a substance is the ratio of its density to the density
of water at 4 degrees Celsius. The relative density of water is assumed to
be one.
• What does it mean when someone says gold's relative density is 19.3 ?
• It means that gold has 19.3 times the density of water of the same volume.
• Objects with a relative density less than one float in water, while those
with a density larger than one sink.
Density of the substance
Relative density of a substance =
Density of water at 40C
 Mass of the substance 
 
= 
Volume of the substance 
 Mass of water 
 
 Volume of water 
Mass of the substance Volume of water
= ×
Volume of the substance Mass of water
• Now, if we take equal amounts of the material and water, we get the
Following:
Mass of the substance
Relative density of a substance =
Volume of an equal volume of water
• The relative density has no unit because it is a ratio of two identical
quantities.

Thrust and Pressure:

• We defined force as an external agent that modifies the direction of
motion, speed, or shape of the body at the start of this chapter.
• We were simply talking about the forces acting at a spot on a body the
whole time.
• Consider the forces at work in a given location.
• If you want to hang a poster on your classroom bulletin board, you must
apply force to the head of the drawing pin, which is perpendicular to the
surface of the bulletin board.
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• This force, which is acting perpendicular to the surface, is referred to as
thrust.

• The force operating on a body perpendicular to its surface is known

as thrust.
• The Newton is the SI unit of thrust ( N ) .
• Let's see if there's a relationship between the applied force (thrust) and
the region on which it acts.
• Hold a pin erect in the middle of a stack of papers. Another pin should be
placed next to it, upside down, with its flat head resting on the pile.
• Place a flat object, such as a duster, on both of these pins to press them
down. We notice that the erect pin pierces through the stack of papers.

• This is because the force operating on the erect pin is applied over a
limited area, but the force acting on the second pin is applied over a broad
area.
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• A thin yet durable string strap is used to hold your bag.
• Now, using a wide cloth band as a strap, raise the same bag. A school bag
with a wide textile band is more comfortable to carry than one with a tiny
strip.
• This is because the weight of the books is dispersed over a larger area of
the shoulder in the second example, exerting less force.
• As can be seen from the examples above, the efficiency of the applied
force is dependent on the region on which it acts.
• There is now a requirement to define a new physical quantity known as
pressure.
• The force operating on a unit area is known as pressure
Force
Pressure =
Area
Thrust
Pressure =
Area
N
The SI unit of pressure is 2 .
m
N
is known as Pascal ( Pa ) in honor of the French Scientist Blaise
m2
Pascal.
N
1 2 = 1 Pascal
m
• Because a kilopascal is a very small unit, we frequently utilise it.
• The force exerted and the area over which the force acts are the two
factors that determine pressure.

Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle:

• It is general knowledge that when bodies are submerged in water or any
other liquid, they appear lighter.
• While bathing, we notice that as soon as the mug of water rises over the
water's surface, it becomes noticeably heavier.
• When a fish is taken out of the water, it looks to be heavier in the air than
it was in the water.
• Let's have a look at why that is.
• Because the liquid or water exerts an upward force on the items immersed
in it, they appear to be lighter in water or any other liquid.
• Let's see if there is an apparent loss of weight while immersed in water by
conducting an experiment.
• Attach a stone to one of the spring balance's ends. Suspend the spring
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 balance in the manner depicted in the diagram.

Experimental set up to Prove Archimedes' Principle:

• Take note of the spring balance reading. Let's call it W1 .
• Now carefully immerse the stone into a jar of water and record the reading
on the spring balance.
• The spring balance's reading continues to drop until it is entirely
submerged in water.
• The weight of the stone is determined by the reading on the spring balance.
• We may deduce that the weight of the object is reducing as it is dropped
in water because the reading continues to decrease.
• The apparent weight loss indicates that a force is working on the object in
an upward direction, causing it to lose weight.
• The buoyant force is the upward force exerted on an object immersed
in a liquid that causes the object to appear to lose weight.
• Buoyancy is defined as a liquid's tendency to exert an upward force
on an object placed in it, causing it to float or rise.

Factors Affecting the Buoyant Force:

• We know that an iron nail sinks when placed on the surface of water,
whereas an iron ship floats. This is due to the ship's larger size or volume.
• When an iron nail and a cork of equal mass are placed in water, the iron
nail sinks because the density of the iron nail is greater than that of the
water, whilst the density of the cork is lower.

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• When the density of the liquid exceeds the density of the body's material,
the body floats due to the buoyant force it exerts, and vice versa.
• The buoyant force experienced by a body while submerged in a liquid
is dependent on the volume of the body and the density of the liquid,
as shown in the examples above.

Archimedes' Principle:
• Archimedes investigated the up thrust acting on a body when it is
partially or entirely submerged in a fluid, conducting various tests,
and finally stating the Archimedes' Principle.
• When a body is partially or completely immersed in a fluid, it feels an
up thrust (buoyant force) equal to the weight of the liquid displaced,
according to this principle.

Experiment to Verify Archimedes' Principle:

• Using a physical balance, determine the mass ( m ) of a clean and dry
beaker.
• Suspend a stone from a spring balance to determine its weight. Fill a
Eureka can (a beaker with a spout towards the top) with water until it
reaches the spout. Place the mass m beaker under the spout.
• Gently lower the solid into the Eureka can, suspended from spring
balance, until the stone is entirely immersed in water.
• When submerged in water, the stone displaces a particular amount of
water.
• The spring balance registers a lower value, indicating that the solid is up
thrust. The water that has been displaced is collected in the beaker.
• The mass of the water and beaker is calculated using the physical balance.
Let's call it m1 .
• Therefore, Amount of water displaced = m1 - m
• When the apparent loss of weight of the solid in water is compared to the
amount of water displaced, they are found to be equal. As a result, this
experiment proves Archimedes' Principle.

Application of Archimedes' Principle:

• It's employed in the construction of ships and submarines.
• This principle underpins lactometers and hydrometers, which are used
to determine the density of liquids and measure the purity of a sample
of milk.

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