MUMBAI / NASHIK/ AKOLA / DELHI / KOLKATA / LUCKNOW

TIME: 1HR TOPIC : GRAVITATION MARKS:66

Single Choice Questions (+3, -1)

1. A straight rod of length L extends from x =a to x =L +a. Find the gravitational force exerted by it
on a point mass m at x =0 if the linear density of rod
2
A Bx = +
(a)
A
Gm Bl
a
(
+
(

(b)
1 1
Gm A BL
a a L
( | |
+
| (
+
\ .

(c)
A
Gm BL
a L
(
+
(
+

(d)
A
Gm BL
a
(

(



2. A gravitational field is present in a region. A point mass is shifted
from A to B, along different paths shown in the figure. If
1
W,
2
W and
3
W represent work done by gravitational force for respective paths.
Then
(a)
1 2 3
W W W = = (b)
1 2 3
W W W > >
(c)
1 3 2
W W W > > (d) none of these

3. A point mass
0
m is placed at distance R/3 from the centre of a spherical shell of mass m and radius
R. The gravitational force on the point mass
0
m is
(a)
0
2
4Gmm
R
(b) zero (c)
0
2
9Gmm
R
(d) none of these

4. n particles each of mass
0
m are placed on different corners of a regular polygon of edge length a.
The distance between vertex and centre of polygon is
0
r . The gravitational potential at the centre of
the polygon is
(a)
0
0
Gnm
r
(b)
0
0
Gm
r
(c)
0
0
nGm
r
(d) none of these

5. Suppose that in a region only gravitational field due to masses
1
M and
2
M are present. A particle of mass m goes from
surface of
1
M to the surface of
2
M in a spaceship moving with
constant velocity. Neglect all other objects besides
1 2
M ,M and
m.
1 2
M &M are two stars.
Which part of figure best represents the net gravitational force on the
particle as a function of time

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4


6. In the given figure, for small displacement of particle of mass m
along y axis, the motion of the particle is
(a) simple harmonic
(b) motion with constant acceleration
(c) non oscillatory (d) none of the above

7. The work done in shifting a particle of mass m from centre of earth to the surface of earth is (
0
m at
both places are fixed)
(a) m g R (b)
mgR
2
+ (c) zero (d) none of these

8. A satellite S is moving in an elliptical orbit around the earth. The mass of the satellite is very small
compared to the mass of the earth
(a) the acceleration of S is always directed towards the centre of the earth
(b) the angular momentum of S about the centre of the earth changes in direction but its magnitude
remains constant
(c) the total mechanical energy of S varies periodically with time
(d) the linear momentum of S remains constant in the magnitude

9. If an artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the earth with a speed equal to half the
magnitude of the escape velocity form the earth, the height of the satellite above the surface of the
earth is
(a) 2R (b)
R
2
(c) R (d)
R
4

10. The escape velocity on the surface of the earth is 11.2 km/sec. If mass and radius of a planet is 4 and
2 times respectively than that of earth, what is the escape velocity from the planet?
(a) 11.2 km/sec (b) 1.112 km/sec (c) 15.8 km/sec (d) 22.4 km/sec

11. The escape velocity of a body on the surface of the earth is 11.2 km/sec. If the earths mass increases
to twice its present value and radius of the earth becomes half, the escape velocity becomes
(a) 5.6 km/sec (b) 11.2 km/sec (c) 22.4 km/sec (d) 44.8 km/sec

12. A uniform ring of mass M and radius R is placed directly above uniform sphere of mass 8M and of
same radius R. The centre of the ring is at a distance of d 3R = from the centre of sphere. The
gravitational attraction between the sphere and the ring is
(a)
2
2
8GM
R
(b)
2
2
2GM
3R
(c)
2
2
3GM
2R
(d)
2
2
3GM
R


13. A particle is projected upward from the surface of earth (radius =R) with a speed equal to the orbital
speed of a satellite near the earths surface. The height to which it would rise is
(a) 2R (b)
R
2
(c) R (d) 2R






14. The ratio of the energy required to raise a satellite to a height h above the earth to that of the kinetic
energy of satellite in the orbit there is (R =radius of earth)
(a)
h
R
(b)
4h
R
(c)
2h
R
(d) none

15. A spherical hole is made in a solid sphere of radius R. The mass of the original
sphere was M. The gravitational field at the centre of the hole due to the
remaining mass is
(a) zero (b)
2
GM
8R
(c)
2
GM
2R
(d)
2
GM
R


16. A ring has a total mass m but not uniformly distributed over its circumference. The radius of the ring
is R. A point mass m is placed at the centre of the ring. Work done in taking away the point mass
from centre to infinity is
(a)
GMm
R
(b)
GMm
R
(c)
GMm
2R
(d) cannot be calculated

17. Imagine a light planet revolving around a very massive star in a circular orbit of radius R with a
period of revolution T. If the gravitational force of attraction between the planet and the star is
5 2
R

,
then
2
T is proportional to
(a)
3
R (b)
7 2
R (c)
32
R (d)
9 2
R

18. If G is the universal gravitational constant and is the uniform density of spherical planet. Then
shortest possible period of the planet can be
(a)
G
2
t

(b)
3 G t

(c)
6G
t

(d)
3
G
t

19. A planet is moving in an elliptical path around the sun as shown
in figure. Speed of planet in positional P and Q are
1
u and
2
u
respectively with
1
SP r = and
2
SQ r = , then
1 2
u u is equal to
(a)
1
2
r
r
(b)
2
1
r
r

(c) constant (d)
2
1
2
r
r
| |
|
\ .


20. Three solid spheres each of mass m and radius R are released from the
position shown in figure. The speed of any sphere at the time of
collision would be
(a)
1 3
GM
d R
| |

|
\ .
(b)
3 1
GM
d R
| |

|
\ .

(c)
2 1
GM
R d
| |

|
\ .
(d)
1 2
GM
R d
| |

|
\ .


21. The magnitudes of the gravitational fields at distance
1
r and
2
r from the centre of a uniform sphere of
radius R and mass M are
1
F and
2
F respectively. Then
(a)
1 1
1 2
2 2
F r
if r Randr R
F r
= < < (b)
2
1 2
1 2 2
2 1
F r
if r Randr R
F r
= < <
(c)
3
1 1
1 2 2
2 2
F r
if r Randr R
F r
= < < (d)
2
1 1
1 2 2
2 2
F r
if r Randr R
F r
= < <

22. Let V and E be the gravitational potential and gravitational field. Then select the correct
alternative(s)
(a) the plot of E against r (distance from centre) is discontinuous for a spherical shell
(b) the plot of V against r is continuous for a spherical shell
(c) the plot of E against r is discontinuous for a solid sphere
(d) the plot of V against r is continuous for a solid sphere






MUMBAI / NASHIK/ AKOLA / DELHI / KOLKATA / LUCKNOW
ANSWER KEY (GRAVITATION)


1.b 2.a 3.b 4.a 5.d 6.a 7.b

8.a 9.c 10.c 11.c 12. d 13. c 14. c

15. c 16. b 17. b 18. d 19. b 20. d 21. a, b

22. a, b, d








ANDHERI / BORIVALI / DADAR / CHEMBUR / THANE / MULUND/ NERUL / POWAI

GRAVITATION SOLUTION

1.
( )
2
dx
dF Gm
x

=


( )
( )
a L
2
2
a
dx
F Gm A Bx
x
+
= +
}


1 a
F Gm A BL
a a L
( | |
= +
| (
+
\ .


2. The work done by gravitational force does not depend upon path. So, works done in paths are same.


4.
0
0
G m
Gnm
V
r r
= =

7.
ext f i
W u u u = A =
Here
i
u =gravitational potential energy at the centre of earth

3GmM 3
gRm
2R 2

= =

f
u =gravitational potential energy at the surface of earth

GmM
mgR
R

= =

ext f i
3 mgR
W u u mgR mgR
2 2
= = + =

9.
es
2GM
escape velocity =
R
= v

o
GM
orbitalvelocity
R h
= =
+
v
Given,
e
o
2
=
v
v
GM 1 2GM
R h 2 R
=
+

Or
GM 1 2GM
R h 4 R
=
+

On solving, we get; h =r

12. Gravitational field due to the ring at a distance d 3R = on its axis is:

( )
3 2
2 2
GMd
E
R d
=
+


2
3GM
8R
=
Force on sphere
2
2
3GM
8Me
R
= =

13.
e
0
2
u
u = u (orbital speed
0
u of a satellite)
Near the earths surface is equal to
1
2
times
the escape velocity of a particle on earths surface)
Now from conservation of mechanical energy:
Decrease in kinetic energy =increase in potential energy
or
2
e
1 mgh
m
h 2 2
1
R
u
=
| |
+
|
\ .

or
1 2gR mgh
m
h
2 2
1
R
| |
=
|
\ .
+
or h R =

14. Energy required to raise a satellite up to a height h:

1
mgh
E U
h
1
R
= A =
+
(1)

2
2 0
1
E m
2
= u

o
1 GM
m as
2 r
| |
= u =
|
\ .
orbital speed

1 GM
m
2 R h
| |
=
|
+
\ .


2
1 GM R
m
h
2 R
1
R
| |
=
|
\ .
+

or
2
mgR
E
h
2 1
R
=
| |
+
|
\ .
(2)
From equations (1)and (2)

1
2
E 2h
E R
=




15. By the principle of superposition of fields
1 2 E E E = +


Here E

=net field at the centre of hole due to entire mass

1 E

=field due to remaining mass

and 2 E

=field due to mass in hole =0

1
3
GM
E E r
R
| |
=
|
\ .

where
R
r
2
=

2
GM
E
2R
=

16. W =increase in potential energy of system

f i
U U =
( )
f i
m V V =
(V =gravitational potential)

GM
m 0
R
( | |
=
| (
\ .


GMm
R
=
Note: Even if mass is non uniformly distributed potential at centre would be
GM
R


17. Centripetal force
5 2
R

or
2 5 2
mR R

e
or
2 5 2
2
k R

e
or
2 7 2
2
R

e
or
2
7 2
2
R
T

t | |

|
\ .

or
2 7 2
T R

18. The fastest possible rate of rotation of a planet is that for which the gravitational force on material at
the equator just barely provides the centripetal force needed for the rotation. Let M be the mass of
the planet R its radius and m the mass of a particle on its surface. Then

2
max 2
GMm
mR
R
e =
or
3
max 3 3
4
G R .
GM 3
R R
| |
t
|
\ .
e = =

min
G 2
2
3 T
t t
= =

min
3
T
G
t
=

19. Angular momentum of planet about the sun is constant.
i.e. m rsin u u = constant
At position P and Q,
0
90 u = and m =mass of planet =constant
r u = constant
or
1 2
2 1
r
r
u
=
u


20. From conservation of mechanical energy

2 2
2
1 Gm Gm
3 m 3
2 2R d


u =
` `
)
)


2
1 2
Gm
2 d

u =
`
)


1 2
Gm
R d

u =
`
)



21. For
3
GM
r R;F .r
R
s = or F r

1 1
2 2
F r
F r
= for
1
r R < and
2
r R <
And for r R >
2
GM
F
r
= or
2
1
F
r


2
1 2
2
2 1
F r
F r
= for
1
r R > and
2
r R >

22. E-r and V-r graphs for a spherical shell and a solid sphere are as follows: