Gravitation
Gravitation
Gravitation
(b) Depth
(c) Shape
(d) Rotation
3. Shell theorem
(i) If a point mass lies outside the spherical shell/sphere with a spherical symmetric
internal mass distribution, the shell/sphere attracts the point mass as if the whole mass
of the shell/sphere were concentrated at its centre.
1
(ii) If the point mass lies inside the uniform spherical shell, the gravitational force on the
point mass is zero.
4. Gravitational shielding is not possible.
5. Gravitational forces obey the principle of superposition; that the force F1 on a particle is the
sum of the forces exerted on it by all other particles.
n
F1 = F1i
i= 2
−3 GM 2
Self energy of Earth, U =
5 R
2
11. Escape speed :
The speed with which the projected object will escapes from the gravitational pull of an
astronomical body. For an astronomical body of mass M and radius R.
2GM
ve = or ve = 2gR
R
R
and T = 2 = 84.6 min .
g
Relation between escape velocity and orbital velocity
𝑣𝑒 = √2
13. If satellite or planet revolves in an elliptical orbit with eccentricity e, then (optional)
1 + e GM 1 − e GM
v max = and v min =
1 − e a 1 + e a
v max 1 + e
= , where a is the semimajor axis.
v min 1 − e
16. Existence of atmosphere : A planet will have atmosphere if vrms < ve.