CPP - GRAVITATION

SECTION (A) : UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITATION

A 1. Four similar particles of mass ma are orbiting in a circle of radius r in the same
direction because of their mutual gravitational attractive force. Velocity of a
particle is given by
1
 Gm  1  2 2  2 Gm
(A)    (B) 3
 r  4 
 r

1
 1 Gm  1  2  2
(C)
Gm
r
1 2 2   (D)   
 2 r  2 

A 2. Two blocks of masses m each are hung from a balance. The scale pan A
is at height H 1 whereas scale pan B is at height H 2. Net torque acting
on the rod of pan, will be (length of the rod is  and H1 & H2 are << R)
(H1 > H2)

 1  2 H1  mg 2mg H2 H1
(A) mg    (B) (H 1  H 2 ) (C) (H1  H2 )  (D) 2mg H  H 
 R  R R 1 2

A 3. Three particles P, Q and R are placed as per given figure. Masses of P,

Q and R are 3 m, 3 m and m respectively. The gravitational
force on a fourth particle ‘S’ of mass m is equal to
3 GM 2
(A) in ST direction only
2d 2

3 Gm 2 3 Gm 2
(B) in SQ direction and in SU direction
2d 2 2d 2

3 Gm 2
(C) in SQ direction only
2d2

3 Gm 2 3 Gm 2
(D) in SQ direction and in ST direction
2d2 2d2

SECTION (B) : GRAVITATIONAL FIELD AND POTENTIAL

B 1. Let gravitation field in a space be given as E = – (k/r). If the reference point is at d i where potential is V i
then relation for potential is :
1 r r r Vi
(A) V = k log V + 0 (B) V = k log d + Vi (C) V = log d + kVi (D) V = log d +
i i i i k
B 2. Gravitational field at the centre of a semicircle formed by a thin wire
AB of mass m and length  is

Gm Gm
(A) along +x axis (B) along +y axis
 2  2
2  Gm 2  Gm
(C) along + x axis (D) along + y axis
2 2
B 3. A very very large number of particles of same mass m are kept at horizontal distances of 1m, 2m, 4m,
8m and so on from (0,0) point. The total gravitational potential at this point is :
(A) – 8G m (B) – 3G m (C) – 4G m (D) – 2G m
B 4. The gravitational potential of two homogeneous spherical shells A and B of same surface density at their
respective centres are in the ratio 3 : 4. If the two shells coalesce into single one such that surface mass
density remains same, then the ratio of potential at an internal point of the new shell to shell A is equal to :
(A) 3 : 2 (B) 4 : 3 (C) 5 : 3 (D) 3 : 5
B 5. Two concentric shells of uniform density of mass M 1 and M2 are situated
as shown in the figure. The forces experienced by a particle of mass m
when placed at positions A, B and C respectively are (given OA = p,
OB = q and OC = r).
M1m (M1  m 2 )m
(A) zero , G 2 and G
q p2

(M1  M2 )m (M1  M2 )m M1m

(B) G 2
,G 2
and G
p q r2
M1m G(M1  M2 )m M1m G(M1  M2 )m M1m
(C) G 2 , ,G 2 and zero (D) ,G and zero
q p 2
q p 2
q2

SECTION (C) : GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY AND SELF ENERGY

C 1. The figure shows the variation of energy with the orbit radius of a body in
circular planetary motion. Find the correct statement about the curves
A, B and C

(A) A shows the kinetic energy, B the total energy and C

the potential energy of the system
(B) C shows the total energy, B the kinetic energy and A
the potential energy of the system
(C) C and A are kinetic and potential energies respectively and B is the total energy of the system
(D) A and B are the kinetic and potential energies and C is the total energy of the system.

C 2. A body starts from rest at a point, distance R 0 from the centre of the earth of mass M, radius R. The
velocity acquired by the body when it reaches the surface of the earth will be

1 1  1 1  1 1  1 1 
(A) GM  R  R  (B) 2 GM  
 R R

 (C) 2 GM   
 (D) 2GM  R  R 

 0   0   R R0   0 

C 3. Three equal masses each of mass ‘m’ are placed at the three-corners of an equilateral triangle of side ‘a’.
(a) If a fourth particle of equal mass is placed at the centre of triangle, then net force acting on it, is equal
to :
G m2 4G m 2 3G m 2
(A) (B) (C) (D) zero
a2 3a 2 a2
(b) In above problem, if fourth particle is at the mid-point of a side, then net force acting on it, is equal to:
G m2 4G m 2 3G m 2
(A) 2 (B) 2 (C)
(D) zero
a 3a a2
(c) If above given three particles system of equilateral triangle side a is to be changed to side of 2a, then
work done on the system is equal to :

3 G m2 3G m 2 4 G m2 G m2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
a 2a 3a a
(d) In the above given three particle system, if two particles are kept fixed and third particle is released.
Then speed of the particle when it reaches to the mid-point of the side connecting other two masses:

2 Gm Gm Gm Gm
(A) (B) 2 (C) (D) 2a
a a a
C 4*. In case of an orbiting satellite if the radius of orbit is decreased :
(A) its Kinetic Energy decreases (B) its Potential Energy decreases
(C) its Mechanical Energy decreases (D) its speed decreases

SECTION : (D) KEPLER’S LAW FOR SATELLITES, ORBITAL VELOCITY AND ESCAPE VELOCITY
D 1. Periodic-time of satellite revolving around the earth is - ( is density of earth)

1 1
(A) Proportional to (B) Proportional to (C) Proportional  (D) does not depend on .
 

D 2. An artificial satellite of the earth releases a package. If air resistance is neglected the point where the
package will hit (with respect to the position at the time of release) will be :
(A) ahead (B) exactly below (C) behind (D) it will never reach the earth
D 3. A projectile is fired from the surface of earth of radius R with a velocity k e where  e is the escape
velocity and k < 1. Neglecting air resistance, the maximum height of rise from centre of earth is -
R R
(A) 2 (B) k 2 R (C) (D) kR
k 1 1 k2
D 4*. An orbiting satellite will escape if :
(A) its speed is increased by 41%
(B) its speed in the orbit is made 1.5 times of its initial value
(C) its KE is doubled
(D) it stops moving in the orbit
D 5*. A satellite close to the earth is in orbit above the equator with a period of rotation of 1.5 hours. If it is
above a point P on the equator at some time, it will be above P again after time
(A) 1.5 hours
(B) 1.6 hours if it is rotating from west to east
(C) 24/17 hours if it is rotating from east to west
(D) 24/17 hours if it is rotating from west to east

SECTION (E) : EARTH AND OTHER PLANETS GRAVITY

E 1. If acceleration due to gravity is 10 ms –2 then let acceleration due to
gravitational acceleration at another planet of our solar system be
5 ms –2. An astronaut weighing 50 kg on earth goes to this planet in a
spaceship with a constant velocity. The weight of the astronaut with
time of flight is roughly given by
Hkkj
Weight Hkkj

Weight Hkkj

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Weight

Weight Hkkj

Time l e; Time l e; l e;
Time l e; Time

E 2*. In case of earth :

(A) field is zero, both at centre and infinity
(B) potential is zero, both at centre and infinity
(C) potential is same, both at centre and infinity but not zero
(D) potential is minimum at the centre
 ANSWERS
SECTION (A) :
A 1. (A) A 2. (B) A 3. (C)

SECTION (B) :
B 1. (B) B 2. (D) B 3. (D) B 4. (C)
B 5. (D)

SECTION (C) :
C 1. (D) C 2. (C) C 3. (a) (D) (b) (B)
(c) (B) (d) (B) C 4. (B), (C)

SECTION (D) :
D 1. (B) D 2. (D) D 3. (C) D 4. (A), (C)
D 5. (B), (C)

SECTION (E) :
E 1. (A) E 2. (A), (D)