PHYSICS

GRAVITATION
Orbit : The paths followed by the planets around the sun and by the satellites around the planets are known as
orbits.
According to Newton's first law of motion, these planets and satellites can move in circular orbits only if some
force is acting on them. The mystery of the motion of all these heavenly bodies (i.e. planets and satellites) in
nearly circular orbits was solved by Issac Newton when he observed that an apple fall from a tree towards the
earth. Therefore, he proposed that all particles or objects in the universe attract each other in the same manner
as the earth attracted the apple.
"The force of attraction between any two particles in the universe is called gravitation or
gravitation force".
Centripetal force :- The force act towards the centre is called centripetal force.
Example: Consider a girl whirling a stone along a circular
path. If the girl releases the stone at some point, the stone
flies off along the tangent, at that point on the circular
path. Let us discuss this observation carefully.
Before the release of thread, the stone was moving with a
certain uniform speed and changed its direction at every
point. Because of the change in direction, it moved with a
variable velocity and has some definite acceleration. The
force that causes this acceleration and makes the stone
move along the circular path, acts towards the centre,
i.e., towards the hand of the girl. This force is called
centripetal force. When the thread is released, the stone
does not experience the centripetal force and flies off along a straight line. This straight line is always tangent to
the circular path.
NEWTON'S UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITATION
Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with of force which is directly proportional
to the product of two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them. The direction of the force is along the line joining the two masses.
If m1 and m2 are the masses of two bodies separated by a distance d and F is the force of attraction between
them, then m1
1 m2
F12 F21
F  m 1m2 F 
d2
m1 m 2
F
d2 d
G m1 m 2
or F= where G is a constant of proportionality and known as the constant of universal gravitation
d2
and is equal to
Fd 2
Fd = Gm1m2
2
G =
m1 m 2
F  12
If m1 = m2 = 1kg and d = 1m, then G=or G = F
1 1
i.e. Universal gravitational constant is the force of attraction (in newton) between two bodies of
mass 1(kg) each lying 1(m) distance apart.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCE :-
1. Gravitational force between two bodies or object does not need any contact between them. It means, gravitational
force is action at a distance.
2. Gravitational force between two bodies varies inversely proportional to the square of the distance between
them. Hence, gravitational force is an inverse square force.
3. The gravitational forces between two bodies or objects form an action-reaction pair. If object A attract object
B with a force F1 and the object
F2 F1
B attracts object A with a force F2, then
F1 = F 2 A B

UNIT OF GRAVITATIONAL CONSTANT

Fd 2
G =
m1 m 2
Nm 2 Nm 2
InSIunit G =  = Nm2 kg–2
kg  kg kg 2
In CGS unit of dyn cm2 g–2.
Do you know ?
1. The value of G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2 or 6.67 × 10–8 dyn cm2 g–2
2. The value of G is same throught the universe and hence G is known as universal grvitaional constant.
3. Value of G was determined in laboratory by sir henry cavendish.
4. Sinc the value of G is very small, so the gravitational force is a very weak force.
5. Gravity : The gravtional force between a body on the earth is called gravity.

IMPORTANCE OF THE UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITATION

The Universal law of gravitation given by Newton has explained successfully several phenomena. For example:
1. The gravitational force of attraction of the Earth is responsible for binding all terrestrial objects on the Earth.
2. The gravitational force of the Earth is responsible for holding the atmosphere around the Earth.
3. The gravitational force of the Earth is also responsible for the rainfall and snowfall on the Earth.
4. The flow of water in rivers is also due to gravitational force of the Earth on water.
5. The moon revolves around the Earth on account of gravitational 'pull of the Earth on the Moon.
Even all artificial satellites revolve around the Earth on account of gravitational pull of the Earth on the satellites.
6. The predictions about solar and lunar eclipses made on the basis of this law always come out to be true.
The gravitational force plays an important role in nature.
7. All the planets revolve around the sun due to the gravitational force between the sun and the planets. The
force required by a planet to move around the sun in circular path (known as centripetal force) is provided
by the gravitational force of attraction between the planet and the sun. Thus, gravitational force is responsible
for the existence of the solar system.
8. Tides in oceans are formed due to the gravitational force between the moon and the water in oceans.
9. Gravitational force between a planet and its satellite (i.e., moon) decides whether a planet has a moon or
not. Since the gravitational force of the planets like mercury and venus is very small, therefore, these planets
do not have any satellite or moon.
10. We stay on the earth due to the gravitational force between the earth and us.
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 PHYSICS
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE BETWEEN LIGHT OBJECTS AND HEAVY OBJECTS
The formula applied for calculating gravitational force between light objects and heavy objects is the .
Gm 1 m 2
same, i.e., F = . Let us take three cases:
r2
1. When two bodies of mass 1 kg each are 1 metre apart.
Sol. i.e., m1= m2 = 1 kg, r = 1 m
Taking G = 6·67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2, we obtain gravitational force of attraction,
Gm 1 m 2 6.67  10 1 1  1  1
F= = = 6·67 × 10–11 N
r2 (1)2
which is extremely small. Hence, we conclude that though every pair of two objects exert gravitational pull on
each other, yet they cannot move towards eachother because this gravitational pull is too weak.
2. When a body of mass 1 kg is held on the surface of Earth.
Sol. Here, m1 = 1 kg
m2 = mass of Earth = 6 × 1024 kg
r = distance of body from centre of Earth = radius of Earth = 6400 km = 6.4 × 103 km = 6·4 × 106 m
Gravitational force of attraction between the body and Earth,
Gm 1 m 2 6.67  10 11  1  6  10 24
F= = = 9.8 N
r2 (6.4  10 6 )2
It means that the Earth exerts a gravitational force of 9·8 N on a body of mass one kg. This force is much larger
compared to the force when both the bodies are lighter. That is why when a body is dropped from a height, it
falls to the Earth.
3. When both the body are heavy.
Sol. Let us calculate gravitational force of attraction between Earth and the Moon.
Mass of Earth, m1 = 6 × 1024 kg
Mass of Moon, m2 = 7·4 × 1022 kg
Distance between Earth and Moon, r = 3·84 × 105 km = 3:84 × 108 m
Gravitational constant, G = 6·67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
The gravitational force between Earth and Moon,
Gm 1 m 2 6.67  10 11  (6  10 24 )  (7.4  10 2 2 )
F= = = 2·01 × l020 N
r2 (3.84  10 8 )2
which is really large. It is this large gravitational force exerted by Earth on Moon, which makes the Moon revolve
around the Earth.
Ex. Let us find force of attraction between two block lying 1m apart. Let the mass of each block is 40
kg.
Sol. F=?
m1 = 40 kg
m2 = 40 kg
d=1m
G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2
Gm 1 m 2 6.6 7  10 1 1  4 0  40
F= 
d2 1 1
or F = 1.0672 × 10–7 N
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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
1. The gravitational force between two object is 49 N. How much distance between these objects
be decreased so that the force between them becomes double ?
Sol. Step-1 : Here, F = 49 N
Let r = original distance between the objects.
m1 and m2 = masses of the objects
Gravitational force between these objects is given by
Gm 1 m 2
F = ...(i)
r2
Step-2 : Now, F' = 2F = 2 × 49 N = 98 N
Let, r' = decreased distance between the objects
m1 and m2 = masses of the objects
Gravitational force between these objects is given by
Gm 1 m 2
F' = ...(ii)
r2
Dividing (1) by (2), we get

F r '2 r' F F 1
 2 or    [ F' = 2F]
F' r r F' 2F 2
r
 r' 
2
2. Two bodies A and B having masses 2 kg and 4 kg respectively are seperated by 2m. Where should
a body of mass 1 kg be placed so that the gravitational force on this body due to bodies A and
B is zero ?
Sol. Let a body of mass 1 kg be placed at point P at a distance x from body A. Therefore, the distance of mass
1 kg from a body B = (2 – x) m.
Gravitaional force on 1 kg due to body A is given by
Gm 1 m 2
F =
r2
G 1 2 2G
= 2 N(along PA) = N (along PA)
x x2
Gravitational force on 1 kg due to body B is

Gm 1 m 2 G 1  4 4G
F' =   N (along PB).
r2 (2  x)2 (2  x)2

Since gravitational force on 1 kg due to bodies A and B is zero, therefore,

F = F'
2G 4G
or 2
 or (2 – x)2 + 2x2
x (2  x)2
or (2 – x) = 2 x = 1.414 x
or 2.414 x = 2
2
or x = = 0.83 m.
2.414
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 PHYSICS

KEPLER'S LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION

Johannes Kepler was a 16th century astronomer who established three laws which govern the motion of planets
(around the sun). These are known as Kepler's laws of planetary motion. The same laws also describe the motion
of satellites (like the moon) around the planets (like the earth). The Keplar's laws of planetary motion are given
below.

1. KEPLER'S FIRST LAW : The planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, with the sun at one of
the two foci of the elliptical orbit.

P
Planet

F F2
Sun

Elliptical orbit

2. KEPLER'S SECOND LAW : Each planet revolves around the sun in such a way that the line joining
the planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal intervals of time.

Planet
P
A
B'
C

A'
B Sun

Elliptical orbit

3. KEPLER'S THIRD LAW : The cube of the mean distance of a planet from the sun is directly
proportional to the square of time it takes to move around the sun. The law can be expressed as :

r3 T2

or r3 = constant × T2

r3
or = constant
T2

where r = Mean distance of planet from the sun

and T = Time period of the planet (around the sun)

Through Kepler gave the laws of planetary motion but he could not give a theory to explain the motion of
planets. It was Newton who showed that the cause of the motion of planets is the gravitational force which the
sun exerts on them. In fact, Newton used the Kepler's third law of planetary motion to develop the law of
universal gravitation.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
NCERT QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTION
1. State the universal law of gravitation.
Ans. Every body in this universe attracts every other body with a force, which is directly proportional to the product
of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of distance between their centres.
2. Write the formula to find the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and an object
on the surface of the earth.
G.Me  m 0
Ans. Fgravitation =
r2
Where G is gravitational constant
Me = the mass of the earth
m0 = the mass of the object
r = the distance between the centre of gravity of the object and the centre of the earth.
3. What do you mean by free fall ?
Ans. When an object falls with a constant acceleration, under the influence of force of gravitation of the earth,
object is said to have free fall.
4. What do you mean by acceleration due to gravity ?
Ans. The acceleration produced in a body due to force of gravity is called acceleration due to gravity. It is denoted
by g. The value of acceleration due to gravity is taken as 9.8 ms–2 at the sea level.
5. What are the differences between the mass of an object and its weight ?
Ans. Mass Weight
1. It is the amount of mater in a body. 1. It is the force of gravity acting on a body.
2. It is measured by a physical balance. 2. It is measured by a spring balance.
3. It is constant at all the places in universe. 3. It is variable and changes with the change in
acceleration due to gravity
4. Its S.I. unit is kilogram. 4. Its S.I. unit is newton.

1
6. Why is the weight of an object on the moon th its weight on the earth ?
6

Ans. Mass of the moon (M) = 7.4 × 1022 kg

Radius of the moon (R) = 1.74 × 106 m
Gravitational constant (G) = 6.7 × 10–11 Nm2kg–2
GM
 Acceleration due to gravity =
r2
on moon (gm)
6.7  10 1 1  7.4  1 0 2 2
gm =
(1.74  10 6 )2
6.7  7.4 10 1 1  22
Gravitation = 
1.74  1.74 10 12
gm = 1.63 ms–2
gm 1.63 1
  approx
ge 9.81 6
1
gm = g
6 e
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 PHYSICS
7. You find your mass to be 42 kg on a weighing machine. Is your mass more or less than 42 kg?
Ans. Mass is always a constant quantity. Therefore, it cannot be more or less than 42 kg.
8. You have a bag of cotton and an iron bar, each indicating a mass of 100 kg when measured
on a weighing machine. In reality, one is heavier than other. Can you say which one is heavier
and why?
Ans. Iron heavier
Reason : Heaviness of an object is determined by its density. As the iron has far more density than cotton,
therefore, in reality iron is heavier than cotton.
9. How does the force of gravitation between two objects change when the distance between them
is reduced to half ?
Ans. When all other variables remain constant, the force of gravitation is inversely proportional to the square of
distance between the two objects.
1 1
F   F  = 4
r2 (1 / 2 )2
 the force of gravitation increases 4 times.
10. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object
does not fall faster than a light object ?
Ans. A freely falling object of any mass falls under the action of gravity given by

GM
g= where 'G' is constant to gravitation
r2
M  Mass of earth
r  the distance between the object and the centre of earth.
As, the acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the objects.
 all object fall at the same speed towards the earth.

NEWTON'S INVERSE-SQUARE RULE

The force between two bodies is inversely proportional to the square of distance between them' is
called the inverse-square rule.
1
F∝
r2
Consider a planet of mass m moving with a velocity (or speed) v around the sun in a circular orbit of radius r, A
centripetal force F acts on the orbiting planet (due to the sun) which is given by :
mv2
F=
r
v2
The mass m of a given planet is constant F
r
If the planet takes time T to complete one revolution (of 2r) around the sun, then its velocity v is given by:
2 r
v=
T
r
The factor 2 is a constant v
T
r2
Now, taking square on both sides v2  2
T
r3 1
If we multiply as well as divide the right side of this relation by r v2  2 
T r
r3 1
The factor is constant by Kepler's third law. v2 
T2 r
1
1 v2 1 F
by putting in place of v2 in relation F  F or r2
r r rr
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CBSE : CLASS-IX

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW OF MOTION AND GRAVITATION

The Newtons third law of motion also holds good for the force of gravitation. This means that when earth exerts
a force of attraction on an object, then the object also exerts an equal force on the earth, in the opposite
direction.
According to Newton's second law,
Force = Mass × Acceleration
F = ma
Force
Acceleration =
Mass
F
or a=
m
The mass of earth is very very large and acceleration produced in the earth very very small and cannot be
detected with even the most accurate instrument available to us.

FREE FALL :-
Any object dropped from some height always falls towards the earth.
If a feather and a stone are dropped from the top of a tower, it
is observed that feather falls onto the ground much later than the
stone. So, it was thought that object of different masses dropped
from same height take different times to reach the ground.
However, Galileo dropped three iron balls of different masses
simultaneously from the top of the tower of Pisa and found that Air opposing the Air opposing the
all the three balls reached the earth's surface at the same time. motion of feather motion of stone
Galileo explained that the feather suffered much air resistance during fall because of its large surface area.
Due to this opposing force, feather takes longer time to reach the ground than the stone. He further explained
that if air resistance is eliminated, both feather and the stone will reach the ground simultaneously.

Conclusion :- Galileo concluded that the bodies of different masses dropped simultaneously from the same
height hit the ground at the same time, if air resistance is neglected.

Definition of Free Fall :-

The falling body on which only force of gravitaion of the earth acts is known as freely falling body and such
fall of a body is known as free fall. A freely falling body has acceleration equal to acceleration due to graveily(g).

EXPERIMENT VERIFICATION :-
This fact was verified experimentally by Robert Boyle just after the death of Galileo.
Robert Boyle used his newly invented vacuum pump to evacuate the air from a long jar
containing a lead bullet and a feather. Then he inverred the jar and found that both the
bullet and the reached the bottom of the jar at the same time.
If the air resistance is neglected or not taken into account, then the only force acting on
the falling body is the force of gravitation of the earth. This force of gravitation of the
earth is constant and hence produces a constant acceleration in the body. Since this
acceleration is produced by the gravitational force of the earth and hence known as
acceleration due to gravitational force of earth or acceleration due to gravity.
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY :-
The acceleration with which a body falls towards the earth due to earth's gravitational pull is known as acceleration
due to gravity. It is denoted by 'g'.
Thus, all bodies irrespective of their masses fall down with constant acceleration.

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 PHYSICS

DETERMINATION OF VALUE OF g
When a body of mass m is dropped from a certain distance R from the centre of earth of mass M, then the force
exerted by the earth on the body is m
GMm F
F= ............(i) h
R2
Let this force produces an acceleration a in mass m.
 F = ma or F = mg ...(ii)
R
From(i)and(ii),
Earth
GMm
mg = M
R2
GM
or g=
R2
For bodies falling near the surface of earth, this acceleration is called acceleration due to gravity and is represented
by g.
GM
 g ...(A)
R2
where M is the mass of the earth i.e., 6 × 1024 kg and R, the radius of the earth i.e., 6.4 × 106 m
GM 6.67× 10 -11 (6  10 2 4 )
 g= =
R2 (6.4  10 6 )2
or g = 9.8 ms–2 or nearly 10 ms–2.
VALUE OF g ON MOON
Mass of moon = 7.4 × 1022 kg and its radius = 1,740 km
or R = 1,740,000 m = 1.74 × 106 m
GM 6.67  10 11 (7.4  10 2 2 )
g=  = 1.63 ms–2
R2 (1.74  10 6 )2
Mass of the earth
We can determine mass of the earth from equation (A)
GM gR 2
g= or M =
R2 G
9 .8 (6 .4  10 6 )2
 Mass of the earth M =
6 .6 7  10 11
or M = 6.018 × 1024 kg
AVERAGE DENSITY OF THE EARTH
It can also be determined from equation (A) above.
4 
G  R 3  d
GM 3  4 Mass
g= 2
 2
 G Rd Volume =
Density
R R 3
Mass = Volume × density
3g
or d=
G4 R
Taking the earth to be a sphere of radius R
3  9.8
 d=
6.67  1 0 11  4   (6.4  10 6 )
or d = 5.5 × 103 kg m–3

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
Calculation of acceleration due to gravity on the moon and to prove that it is 1/6th of the acceleration
due to gravity on the earth.
Mass of the moon (M) = 7.4 × 1022 kg Radius of the moon (R) = 1.74 × 106 m
Gravitational constant (G) = 6.7 × 10 –11
Nm /kg
2 2

GM
Acceleration due to gravity on the moon, g =
R2
6.7  10 11 Nm 2 kg 2  7.4  10 2 2 kg 6.7  7.4 10 11 22
gMoon = gMoon =  N/kg
(1.74  10 6 m)2 1.74  1.74 10 12
g Moon 1.63 ms 2 1
gMoon = 1.63 ms–2    approx
g Earth 9.81 ms 2 6
1
 g moon  g Earth
6
HIGH ORDER THINKING SKILL
VARIATION IN THE VALUE OF 'g' :-
1. Variation in the value of 'g' with the shape of the earth. RP
RE
The acceleration due to gravity 'g' on the surface of the earth is given by Equator

GM Earth
g = 2 ...(1)
R
Pole
This expression for 'g' is calculated by considering the earth as a spherical body.
In fact, the earth is not sphereical in shape but it is egg shaped as shown in figure.
Therefore, the radius of the earth (R) is not constant throughout. Hence, the value of 'g' is different at different
points on the earth.
The equatorial radius (RE) of the earth is about 21 km longer than its polar radius RP).
GM
Now from equation (1), value of 'g' at equator is given by ge = ...(2)
R 2e
GM
Value of 'g' at pole is given by gP = Dividing equation (3) by equation (2), we get
R 2p
2
gP R 
 E ...(A)
gE  R P 
Since RE > RP  gP > gE
Thus, value of 'g' is more at equator than at poles.
2. Variation in the value of 'g' with the altitude (or height) above the surface of the earth.
We know, acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth. The distance of the body from the centre
of the earth = (R + h).
Therefore, acceleration due to gravity at height 'h' is given by B g'
GM
gh = ...(2)
(R  h)2 h
Dividing (2) by (1), we get A m
g
2 2
gh GM R R
  
g (R  h )2 GM (R  h)2 R
2
gh  R 
or  ...(3)
g  (R  h) 
Since (R + h) > R
gh
< 1 or gh < g
g
This shows that the value of 'g' decreases as we go higher and higher.
Thus, value of 'g' decreases with the height from the surface of the earth.

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 PHYSICS
3. Variation in the value of 'g' with depth below the surface of the earth.
The value of 'g' decreases with depth below the surface of the earth.
The value of 'g' at depth d below the surface of the earth is given by


gd = 1 
R
d
g gd = g 
Rd
R  A g
Gm d
g = B
R2
d
R–
4 O R
m =  R3 
3
4
G  R 3  4
g = 3  RG ...(1)
R2 3
GM'
g' =
(R  d)2

4
M' =  (R – d)3 
3
4
G   (R  d)3 
3
g' =
(R  d)2
4
g' = G (R – d)  ...(2)
3
division (2) by (1)
4
g ' 3 G(R  d) R  d R d
g

4
GR

R
   g'  g 1 
R R
d
R  
3
At the centre of the earth d = R g' = g0

g0 = g 1   R
R  = 0

DO YOU KNOW ?

1. The acceleration due to gravity of a planet depends on its mass and its radius. Its value is high if mass is large
and radius is small.
2. The value of g at the surface of earth is 9.8 ms–2 on an average.

GM
3. The value of g decreases with height. gh 
(R  h )2
4. The value of g decreases with depth.
5. The value of g is more at poles and less at equator.
6. The value of g is zero at the centre of the earth.
7. The value of acceleration due to gravity is minimum at planet mercury and maximum at planet jupiter.
8. Acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass shape size etc of falling body i.e. there will be equal
acceleration in a light and heavy falling body.
9. The rate of decrease of the acceleration due to gravity with height is twice as compared to that with depth.
10. If the rate of rotation of earth increases the value of acceleration due to gravity decreases at all places on the
surface of the earth except at of poles.
11. If earth stops rotating there will be increase in the value of acceleration due to gravity at equator by a value
=RW2 = 0.034 m/s2 but there will be no change in the value of g at poles.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
Ex. Calculate the force of gravitation due to a child of mass 25 kg on his fat mother of mass 75 kg if
the distance between their centres is 1m from each other. Given G = (20/3) × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2.

20
Sol. Here m1 = 25 kg ; m2 = 75 kg ; d = 1 m ; G = × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2
3

Gm 1 m 2
Using F =
d2

20  10 11  75  25
or F=
3  (1)2

or F = 12,500 × 10–11
or F = 1.25 × 10–7 N
NCERT QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTION
11. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and a 1 kg object on its surface ?
(Mass of the earth is 6 × 1024 kg and radius of the earth is 6.4 × 106 m.)
G  Me  m 0
Ans. Fgravitation =
r2
6.67  1 0 11  6  10 24  1
=
(6 .4  1 0 6 )2

6.67  6  10 1 1  2 4
=
6.4  6.4  10 12

6.67  6
=  10 11  24 12 = 0.9770 × 10 N = 9.770 N  9.8 N
6.4  6.4

12. The earth and the moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the earth attract
the moon with a force that is greater or smaller or the same as the force with which the moon
attracts the earth ? Why ?
Ans. The earth attracts the moon with the same force with which the moon attracts the earth because, the gravitational
force between any two bodies is mutual and equal according to Newton's universal law of gravitation.
13. If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon ?
Ans. The earth does not move towards the moon because the force exerted by the earth or the moon on each
other is insufficient to move the earth on account of its huge mass.
14. What happens to the force between two objects, if
(i) the mass of one object is doubled ?
(ii) the distance between the objects is doubled and tripled ?
(iii) the masses of both objects are doubled ?
Ans. (
i
) The force of gravitation doubles.
(ii) The force of gravitation decreases 4 times if the distance between the objects is doubled and if the
distance between the objects is tripled then the force of gravitation decreases 9 times.
(iii) The force of gravitation increases 4 times.

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 PHYSICS
15. What is the importance of universal law of gravitation ?

Ans. Importance of universal law of gravitation is as follows :

(
i
) It is the gravitational force between the sun and the earth, which makes the earth to move around
the sun with a uniform speed.

(ii) The tides formed in sea are because of gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the
surface of water.

(iii) It is the gravitational pull of earth, which keeps us and other bodies firmly on the ground.

(iv) It is the gravitational pull of the earth, which holds our atmosphere in place.

16. What is the acceleration of free fall ?

Ans. The average acceleration of free fall on the surface of earth is 9.81 ms–2.

17. What do we call the gravitational force between the earth and an object ?

Ans. It is called force of gravity.

18. Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the instruction of one of his friends. He hands
over the same when he meets him at the equator. Will the friend agree with the weight of gold
bought ? If not, why? [Hint : The value of g is greater at the poles than at the equator]

Ans. Weight of an object = mg

where 'm' is mass of the object at the equator than at the poles as the magnitude of 'g' is less at the equator
than at the poles.

So, his friend will not agree with weight of the gold at the poles when measured at equator.

19. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball ?

Ans. Sheet crumpled into a ball has small surface area as compared to the similar unfolded sheet. Therefore unfolded
sheet will experience more friction due to air as compared to the sheet crumpled into a ball inspite of same
force of gravity acts upon them. It is larger friction of air which slows down the unfolded sheet and therefore
it falls slower as compared to sheet crumpled into a ball.

1
20. Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is only
as strong as gravitational force on the
6
earth. What is the weight in newton of a 10 kg object on the moon and on the earth ?

Ans. Mass of object (m) = 10 kg

Acceleration due to gravity on earth (ge) = 9.81 ms–2.

9.81 –2
Acceleration due to gravity on moon (gm) = ms .
6

Weight of the object on the earth = mge = 10 × 9.81 = 98.1 N

9.81
Weight of the object on the moon = mgm = 10 × = 16.35 N
6

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CBSE : CLASS-IX

GRAVITATION AND GRAVITY

D IFFERENCE BETWEEN 'g' AND 'G'

S . No . Acce le ratio n due to g ravity (g ) S . No . Unive rs al g ravitatio nal co ns tant (G)

The acceleration produced in a body falling

The gravitational force between two bodies
freely under the action of gravitational pull of
1 1 of unit masses separated by a unit distance is
the earth is known as acceleration due to
known as universal gravitational constant.
gravity
The value of 'g' is different at different points The value of 'G' is same at every point on
2 2
on the earth. the earth.
The value of 'g' decreases as we go higher
The value of 'G' does not change with height
3 from the surface of the earth or as we go 3
and depth from the surface of the earth.
deep into the earth.
The value of 'g' at the centre of the earth is The value of 'G' is not zero at the centre of
4 4
zero. the earth or anywhere else.
The value of 'g' is different on the surfaces of
The value of 'G' is same throughout the
5 different heavenly bodies like the sun, the 5
universe.
moon, the planets.
The value of 'g' on the surface of the earth is The value of G = 6 .6 7 3 × 10 –11 Nm 2 kg –2 ,
6 6
9-8 ms–2 . throughout the universe.

EQUATION OF MOTION OF FREELY FALLING BODIES

When the bodies are falling under influence of gravity, they experience acceleration g i.e., 9.8 ms–2. However,
when these are going up against gravity, they move with retardation of 9.8 ms–2. All the equations of motion
already read by us are valid for freely falling body with the difference that a is replaced by g. For motions
vertically upwards (a) is replased by (–g).

The equation of motion

v = u + at

Replace a=g

v = u + gt when body falls in downward

v = u – gt when body through upward

1 2
s = ut + at
2
Replace a=g & s=h

1 2
h  ut  gt
2

v2 – u2 = 2as

Replace s=h

v2  u 2  2 gh

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 PHYSICS

SOLVED EXAMPLE
Ex.1 A boy drops a stone from the edge of the roof. If passes a window 2m high in 0.1s. How far is the
roof above the top of the window ?
Sol. Let a stone be dropped from the edge of the roof A. Let it passes over B with a velocity say u. Consider motion
BC.
u = ?, a = 9.8 ms–2 ; s = h = 2m ; t = 0.1 s
1 2
Using s = ut + gt , we have
2
1
2 = u(0.1) + × 9.8 (0.1)2
2
2 = 0.1u + 0.049
0.1u = 2 – 0.049

1.951
or u= = 19.51 ms–1
0.1

This initial velocity at B in motion BC is the final velocity in motion AB. Considering motion AB, we have
u = 0 ; v = 19.51 ms–1 ; s = ? ; a = 9.8 ms–2
Using v2 – u2 = 2as, we have
(19.51)2 – (0)2 = 2 × 9.8 s

1 9.5 1  19.5 1
or s=
2  9 .8

or s = 19.4 m
Roof is 19.4 m above the window.
Ex.2 A ball thrown up is caught by the thrower after 4 s. With what velocity was it thrown up? How high
did it go? Where was it after 3 s ? (g = 9.8 m s–2)
Sol. Since the time of going up is the same as that of commg down, therefore time of going up = 4/2 = 2s. Let it
starts upward with velocity u.
Here u = ?; a = - 9.8 m s–2 ; t = 2s; v = 0 (at the top); s = h
Using v = u + at
or 0 = u – 9.8 × 2
or u = 19.6 m s–1
Again v2 – u2 = 2as
0 – (19.6)2 = 2 (–9.8) h
h = 19.6 m
After 2s, it starts coming downwards (starting with u = 0). Considering downward motion.

u = 0; a = 9.8 m s–2; t = 3 – 2 = 1s; s = ?

1 2
s = ut + at
2
1
or s=0+ × 9.8 (1)2 = 4.9 m from top. .
2
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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
Ex.3 Coconut is hanging on a tree at a height of 15 m from the ground. A boy launches a projectile
vertically upwards with a velocity of 20 m s–1. After what time the projectile pass by coconut?
Explain the two answers in this problem.
Sol. Here u = 20 m s–1; a = - 10 m s–2; s = 15 m ; t = ?
1 2
Using s = ut + at , we have
2
1
15 = 20t + (–10) t2
2
Dividing throughout by 5, we have
3 = 4t - t2
or t2 – 4t + 3 = 0
or (t – 1) (t – 3) = 0
.. t–1=0 or t = 1s
or t–3=0 or t = 3s
After 1s, it will cross coconut while going up and after 3 s while coming down.
MASS
The amount of matter contained in a body is called its mass
or
The measure of the quantity of matter In a body is called its mass.
The mass of a body is a scalar quantity. It is independent of surroundings and the position of the body. It
is a constant quantity for a given body.
Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) in SI system.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MASS OF A BODY :-
1. Mass of a body is proportional to the quantity of matter contained in it.
2. Mass of a body does not depend on the shape, size and the state of the body.
3. Mass of a body remains the same at all place. This means, the mass of a body will be same throughour
the universe. This is because the quantity of matter contained in the body does not change throughout the
universe.
4. Mass of a body does not change in the presence of other bodies near it.
5. Mass of a body is a scalar quanity.
6. Mass of a body can be measured with the help of a beam balance.
7. Masses of object or bodies are added algebrically.

WEIGHT
The force with which a body is attracted by the earth is known as the weight of the body.
When the earth attracts a body with a gravitational force, the body accelerates towards the earth with an
acceleration due to gravity (g).
Thus, the force with which body of mass m is attracted by the earth is given by
F = ma = m × g = mg
This force is known as the weight of the body. Weight of a body is denoted by W.
 Weight, W = mg
Weight has both magnitude and direction. Hence weight is a vector quantity.

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 PHYSICS
Unit of Weight :-
SI unit of weight is same as that of the force i.e., newton (N).
VARIATION IN THE WEIGHT OF A BODY
Weight of the body is given by
W = mg
So the weight of a body depends upon (i) the mass of the body and (ii) value of acceleration due to gravity.
The mass of a body remains the same throughout the universe, but the value of 'g' is different
places. Hence the weight of a body is different at different place.
1. The value of 'g' is more at poles and less at the equator. Therefore, weight of a body is more at the
poles and less at the equator. In other words, a body weighs more at the poles and less at the equator.
2. The value of 'g' on the surfaces of different planets of the solar system is different, therefore, the weight
of a body is different on the different planets.
3. The value of 'g' decreases with height from the surface of the earth. Therefore, the weight of a body also
decreases with height from the surface of the earth. That is why, the weight of a man is less on the
peak of Mount Everest than the weight of the man at Delhi.
4. The value of 'g' decreases with depth from the surface of the earth. Therefore, the weight of a body decreases
with depth from the surface of the earth.
5. The value of 'g' at the centre of the earth is zero, hence weight (= mg) of the body is zero at the centre
of the earth.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAS S AND WEIGHT

S . No . Mas s S . No . We ig ht
The force with which the earth attracts a
The quantity of matter contained in a body is
1 1 body towards its centre is called the weight
called the mass of the body.
of the body.
Weight of a body changes from place to
2 Mass of a body remains constant. 2
place.
Weight of a body at the centre of the earth is
3 Mass of a body is never zero. 3
zero.
4 Mass is scalar quantity. 4 Weight is a vector quantity.
5 Mass is a measured in kg. 5 Weight is measured in kg wt or N.
Weight is measured by a weighing machine
6 Mass is measured by a beam balance. 6
or a spring balance.
PRACTICAL UNITS OF WEIGHT
In SI, the weight is also measured in kg f or kg wt.
Therefore, kilogram force or kilogram weight is force with which a mass of 1 kg is attracted by centre of earth.

1 kg f = 1 kg wt = 1 kg × 9.8 m/s2 = 9.8 kg ms–2 = 9.8 N 1 kg f  9.8 N

In CGS, the practical unit of weight is grams force or g wt or 1g f or 1g wt is force with which a mass of 1g is
attracted by the centre of the earth.
g = 9.8 ms–2
g = 9.8 × 100 cm/s2

1 g f = 1 g wt = 1 g × 980 cm s–2 = 980 dyne 1 g f  980 dyne

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
THRUST AND PRESSURE

THRUST : Force acting normally on a surface is called the thrust.

Thrust is a vector quantity and is measured in the unit of force, i.e., newton (N).

PRESSURE : The thrust acting on unit area of the surface is called the pressure.
Thrust (F)
If a thrust F acts on a area A, then pressure (P) =
Area (A)
F
P 
A
Pressure is directly proportional to the force.
Pressure in inversely proportional to the area.
For the examples :
Ex. A sharp knife cuts easily than a blunt knife by applying the same force.
Ex. A sharp needle pressed against our skin pierces it. But a blunt object with a wider contact area does not
affect the skin when pressed against it with the same force.

SOME INTERESTING ASPECTS OF PRESSURE

1. The foundation of a building or a dam has a large surface area so that

the pressure exerted by it on the ground is less. This is done to prevent
the sinking of the building or the dam into the ground.
2. The tyres of a bus or a truck have larger width than those of a car.
Further, the number of tyres of heavy vehicles is more than four. This is
done to enable the tyres to carry more weight and to prevent sinking
into ground.
3. A sleeping mattress is so designed that when you lie on it, a large area
of your body comes in its contact. This reduces the pressure on the
body and sleeping becomes comfortable.
4. Railway track are laid on large sized wooden or iron sleepers.

Thrust
We know, Pressure =
Area
The weight (i.e., thrust) of the train is spread over a large area of the sleepers. Therefore, the pressure acting
on the ground under the sleepers is reduced. This prevents the sinking of the ground under the weight of the
train.

5. A sharp knife is more effective in cutting the objects than a blunt knife.

Thrust
The pressure exerted =
Area

The area under the shrap knife is less than the area under the blunt knife. Hence, the pressure exerted by the
sharp knife is more than the pressure exerted by the blunt knife on an object. Therefore, the sharp knife
penetrates easily into the object than the blunt knife when same force is applied in both the cases. Hence, a
sharp knife cuts the objects easily than a blunt knife.

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 PHYSICS
6. A camel walks easily on the sandy surface than a man inspite of the fact that a camel is much
heavier than a man.

This is because the area of camel's feet is large as compared to the area of man's feet. So the pressure exerted
by camel on the sandy surface is very small as compared to the pressure exerted by man. Due to large pressure,
sand under the feet of a man yields (i.e. sink) and hence he cannot walk easily on the sandy surface.

7. A sharp needle, pierce the skin easily but not a blunt needle although the force applied on both the
needles is same.

Thrust
Pressure exerted =
Area

The area under the pointed end of the sharp needle is very small as compared to the area under the pointed
end of the blunt needle. So pressure exerted by the sharp needle is much more than the pressure exerted by
the blunt needle. Hence a sharp needle pierces the skin easily than the blunt needle.

8. It is painful to hold a heavy bag having strap made of a strong and thin string.

Thrust
We know, Pressure =
Area

When we hold a heavy bag having strap made of a strong and thin string, then the are under the strap is small.
Hence, large pressure is exerted by the strap on our fingers or shoulder. Due to this large pressure, the strap
tends to cut the skin and hence pain is caused.

9. The army tank has a large weight. Therefore to avoid large pressure on
the ground its weight is distributed throughout the tank. This is done by
making the tank run on a steel track rather than on wheels. The steel

tracks reduce the pressure of the ground .

UNITS OF PRESSURE. The SI unit of pressure is called pascal (Pa) in honour of Blaise Pascal.

I Pa = 1 N/m2

One pascal is defined as the pressure exerted on a surface area of 1 m2 by a thrust of 1 N (acting normally on
it).

Other units of pressure are bar and millibar where

1 bar = 105 N/m2 and 1 millibar = 102 N/m2

It is a common practice in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure in bars and millibars. Further,
1 atmospheric pressure (1 atm) = 101·3 k Pa = 1·013 bar = 1013 m bar

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
Ex. Fig. (a) shows how to calculate pressure exerted by a brick of mass 3 kg : (a) when standing on end;
(b) when lying flat. The total force or thrust exerted is the same in both the cases.
InFig.(a), A1 = 5 cm × 10 cm = 50 cm2 = 50 × 10–4 m2 and
F1 = 3 kg wt = 3 kg × 10 m/s2 = 30 N
F1 30N
Thus, pressure exerted, P1 = A  = 6 × 103 N/m2 = 6 × 103 Pa
1 50  10 4 m 2
InFig.(b), A2 = 10 cm × 20 cm = 200 cm2 = 200 × 10–4 m2 and
F2 = 3 kg wt = 3 kg × 10 m/s2 = 30 N
F2 30N
Thus, pressure exerted, P2 = A  = 1·5 × 103 N/m2 = 1·5 × 103 Pa
2 200  10 4 m 2

5 cm
20 cm

10
cm

m
20 c
cm
10
5cm

NCERT QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTION

21. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 ms–1. Calculate
(i) The maximum height to which it rises.
(ii) The total time it takes to return to the surface of the earth.
Ans. (
i
) Initial velocity of the ball (u) = 49 ms–1
Final velocity of the ball (v) = 0
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = –9.8 ms–2
[In upward direction g is –ve]
Height attained by the ball (S) = ?
Time for rising up (t) = ?
We know ; v2 – u2 = 2gS
(0)2 – (49)2 = 2 × (–9.8) × S
49  49
S =  122.5 m
2  9.8
We know v = u + gt
0 = 49 – 9.8 × t
49
 t=
9.8
 t = 5s
(ii) Now, time for upward journey of the ball = the time for downward journey of the ball.
 Total time taken by the ball to return to the surface of earth = 2 × t = 2 × 5 = 10 s

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 PHYSICS
22. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its final velocity just
before touching the ground.
Ans. Initial velocity of stone (u) = 0
Final velocity of stone (v) = ?
Height attained (h) = 19.6 m
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = +9.8 ms–2
We know ; v2 = u2 + 2gh
v2 = (0)2 + 2 × 9.8 × 19.6
v2 = 19.6 × 19.6

v = 19.6  19.6

v = 19.6 ms–1.
23. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 ms–1. Taking g = 10 ms–2, find
the maximum height reached by the stone. What is the net displacement and the total distance
covered by the stone ?
Ans. Initial velocity of stone (u) = 40 ms–1
Final velocity of stone (v) = 0
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = –10 ms–2
[For upward direction g is –ve]
Height attained by stone (h) = ?
We, know, v2 – u2 = 2gh
(0)2 – (40)2 = 2 × (–10) × h

1600
h   8 0m
20

 Maximum height attained by stone = 80 m

Net displacement of stone = 0
(because the stone returns back to the same point)
Total distance covered by the stone = 2 × height attained = 2 × 80 = 160 m
24. Calculate the force of gravitation between the earth and the Sun, given that the mass of the earth
= 6 × 1024 kg and of the Sun = 2 × 1030 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 × 1011 m.

G  Me  Ms
Ans. Fgravitation =
(Dist of the earth from the sun)2

6.67  10 1 1  6  10 2 4  2  10 3 0
=
1.5  10 1 1  1.5  10 11

6.67  6  2  10 1 1  2 4  30 11  11
=
2.25

= 35.57 × 1021 N

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
25. A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower 100 m high and at the same time another stone
is projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 25 ms–1. Calculate when and
where the two stones will meet.

Ans. Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 ms–2

Initial velocity (u) = 0

Distance

(S) = 100 – x

Time (t) = ?

1 2
S = ut + gt
2

1
(100 – x) = 0 × t + × 10 t2
2

 100 – x = 5t2 ...(1)

For the stone moving vertically upwards :

Initial velocity (u) = 25 ms–1

Time (t) = ?

Acceleration due to gravity (g) = – 10 ms–1

[In upward direction g is –ve]

Distance (S) = x

we know ;

1 2
S = ut + gt
2

1
x = 25 × t + × (–10 t2)
2

 x = 25t – 5t2 ...(2)

Substituting the value of x from (2) in (1) we get,

100 – (25t – 5t2) = 5t2

100 – 25t + 5t2 = 5t2

25 t = 100

t=4s

Put the value of t in (1)

(1)  100 – x = 5(4)2

 100 – x = 80

x = 20 m

 the stones will meet at a height of 20 m from ground after 4 s.

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 PHYSICS
26. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower after 6 s. Find.
(a) the velocity with which it was thrown up.
(b) the maximum height it reaches and
(c) its position after 4 s
Ans.  the ball returns back to the thrower in 6 s, the time for its upward journey = 6 ÷ 2 = 3s
For the upward motion of ball
Initial velocity (u) = ?
Final velocity (v) = 0 ( Ball comes to rest)
Time (t) = 3s
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = – 10ms–2
[In upward direction g is –ve]
We know ;
v = u + gt
 0 = u – 10 × 3
 – u = – 30
 u = 30 ms–1
We know ;

1 2
S = ut + gt
2

1
S = 30 × 3 – × 10 × (3)2
2
 S = 90 – 45
S = 45 m
For the downward motion of ball
Initial velocity (u) = 0
Time for downward fall (t) = 4 – 3 = 1 s
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 ms–2
Distance covered in downward direction (S) = ?
We know ;

1 2
S = ut + gt
2

1
S=0×t+ × 10 × (1)2
2
 S = 0 + 5
 S = 5 m
 Position of ball after 4 s from ground
= 45 – 5
= 40 m.

DENSITY
Density of a substance is defined as its mass per unit volume.

mass(m )
density(d) =
volume(V)

Unit of density :- Since mass (M) is measured in kilogram (kg) and the volume (V) is measured in metre3 (m3),
the unit of density is kg/m3. In cgs system, the unit of density is g cm–3.
These units are related as : 1 g cm–3 = 1000 kgm–3.

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RELATIVE DENSITY
Relative density (R.D.) of a substance is the ratio of the density of the substance to the density of water at 4°C.
Thus,

Density of substance
Relative density =
Density of water at 4° C

Unit of Relative Densit

Since relative density is a ratio of two similar quantities, it has no unit.
Further,

density of substance
relative density =
density of water at 4°C

mass of substance/ volume of substance

=
mass of water / volume of water at 4°C

If the volume of a given substance is equal to the volume of water at 4°C,

mass of substance
relative density =
mass of an equal volume of water at 4° C

Relative density can also be defined as the ratio between the mass of the substance and the mass of an equal
volume of water at 4°C.

1. A sealed tin of Coca-cola of 400 g has a volume of 300 cm3. Calculate the density of the tin.
Sol. Here, mass of tin m, = 400 g
Volume of tin, V = 300 cm3

m 40 0 g
 Density of tin,  =  = 1.33 g cm–3.
V 3 00 cm 3

2. A sealed cane of mass 600 g has a volume of 500 cm3. Will this cane sink in water ? Density of water is
1 g cm–3.
Sol. Here, mass of cane, m = 600 g
Volume of cane, V = 500 cm3

m 600 g
 Density of cane,  =  = 1.2 g cm–3.
V 5 00 cm 3

Since, density of the cane is greater than the density of water, so the can will sink in water.
3. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3. If density of gold is 19320 kg m–3, find the relative density of the gold.
Sol. Density of water = 1000 kg m–3
Density of gold = 19320 kg m–3

Density of gold
Using, R.D. of gold =
Density of water

19320 kg m –3
we get R.D. of gold =  19.32
1000 kg m –3

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 PHYSICS
4. The density of water is 1000 kg m–3. If relative density of iron is 7.874, then calculate the density of iron.
Sol. Density of water = 1000 kg m–3
Relative density (R.D.) of iron = 7.874

Density of iron
Using, R.D. of iron = , we get
Density of water

Density of iron = R.D. of iron × density of water

= 7.874 × 1000 kg m–3 = 7874 kg m–3.
5. A plastic bottle of 500 g has a volume of 450 cm3. Will the bottle float or sink in water ? Density of water
is 1 g cm–3 ? Also calculate the mass of the water displaced by the bottle.
Sol. Mass, m = 500 g
Volume, V = 450 cm3

m 500 g
)  Density of bottle,  =
(
i  = 1.11 g cm–3.
V 4 50 cm 2

Since, density of bottle is greater than the density of water (1 g cm–3), so the bottle will sink in water.
(ii) Mass of water displaced by the bottle = Volume of water displaced × Density of water
= Volume of bottle × Density of water
= 450 cm3 × 1 g cm–3
= 450 g.

PRESSURE IN FLUIDS

A substance which can flow is called a fluid. All liquids and gases are thus fluids. We know that a solid exerts
pressure on a surface due to its weight. Similarly, a fluid exerts pressure on the container in which it is contained
due to its weight. However, unlike a solid, a fluid exerts pressure in all directions.
A fluid contained in a vessel exerts pressure at all points of the vessel and in all directions.
All the streams of water reach almost the same distance in the air.

PASCAL'S LAW

In an enclosed fluid, if pressure is changed in any part of the fluid, then this change of pressure is
transmitted undiminished to all the other parts of the fluid.

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CBSE : CLASS-IX

BUOYANCY
When a body is partially or wholly immersed in a liquid, an upward force acts on it which is called upthrust or
buoyant force. The property of the liquids responsible for this force is called buoyancy.

Buoyancy is a familiar phenomenon : a body immersed in water seems to weigh less than when it is in air.
When the body is less dense than the fluid, then it floats. The human body usually floats in water, and a helium
filledballoonfloatsinair.

When a body is immersed in a fluid (liquid or gas) it exerts an upward force on the body. This upward force is
called upthrust or buoyant force (U or FB) and the phenomenon is termed as buoyancy. Thus buoyancy or
upthrust is the upward force exerted by a fluid (liquid or gas) when a body is immersed in it.

It is a common experience that when a piece of cork is placed in water it floats with two-fifth of its volume inside
water. If the cork piece is pushed into water and released it comes to the surface as if it has been pushed by
someone from inside due to the buoyant force exerted by fluid.
Can

Cork

FACTOR ON WHICH BUOYANCY DEPENDS :-

Upthrust depends upon the following two factors :

(a) The volume of the body submerged in the fluid. :- It is found that greater the volume of a body greater
is the upthrust it experience when inside a fluid.

(b) The density of fluid in which the body is immersed :- It is also found that greater the density of the fluid
greater is the upthrust it applies on the body.

EFFECT ON BUOYANCY :-

When a body is partially or fully immersed in a fluie, then following vertical forces are experienced by it.

(a) Its weight (W) acting vertically downwards through the centre of the body.

(b) Force of buoyancy (U or B or FB) or upthrust, acting vertically upwards through the centre of gravity of the
body.

The following three cases arise :-

(1) When W < U, the body floats : In this case the body will rise above the surface on the liquid to the extent
that the weight of the liquid displaced by its immersed part equals the weight of the body. Then the body will
float with only a part of it immersed in the liquid. In this case Vg < Vg or  < . Thus if a cork, which has a
density less than that of water will rise in water till a portion of it is above water. Similarly a ship floats in water
since its density is less than the density of water.
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 PHYSICS
(2) When W > U, the body sinks :- If  and  present the densities of the body and the fluid respectively and
V the volume of the body (which is also the volume of the fluid displaced) then Vg > Vg or  >  i.e., the body
sinks in the fluid in case its density is greater than the density of the fluid. An iron nail has greater density than
water, therefore it sinks in water.

(3) When W = U :- The resultant force acting on the body when fully immersed in the fluid is zero. The body is
at rest anywhere within the fluid. The apparent weight of the body is zero for all such positions.

Thus, we find that a body will float when its weight is equal to the weight U of the fluid displaced i.e. the upthrust.

ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE

Archimedes principle states that :- "Anybody completely or partially submerged in a fluid is buoyent up by
a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the liquid".

In other words :- "When a body is partially or completely immersed in a fluid, the fluid exerts an upward force
on the body equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE :-

Consider a container C1 filled with water upto the level from where pipe P extends out. The other end of pipe
P opens to a small container C2 placed on a weighing balance which measure 00.00 [after the placement of the
container C2]. A block B hangs on a spring balance S which shows a reading of 7 kg.

(a) If we partially immerse the block in water we observe some water flows out from C1 to C2 through P. The
weighing machine shows a reading 1 kg and the loss of reading in spring balance is 7 – 6 = 1kg. This means that
weight of water displaced by the block is equal to loss in weight of block.

(b) Now we completely immerse the block in water, we observe that the weight of water displaced by the block is 5
kg and the reading in spring balance is 2 kg. The loss of weight of block is 7 – 2 = 5 kg. Again we reach the
same conclusion that weight of water displaced by the block is equal to the loss in weight of block.

(c) What happens when the block is further immersed? No more water will be displaced by the block and therefore
reading shown by weighing machine and spring balance remains unchanged.

Why the spring balance shows a loss in weight of the block when Fig. A block of 7 kg hanging on a the block is
immersed in water? This is because of buoyant force on spring balance acting vertically upwards. The loss in
weight is equal to the buoyant force.

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CBSE : CLASS-IX
CONCLUSION 1:

Buoyant force  volume of liquid displaced (V). If two bodies of different material have same volume, the
buoyant force acting on them, when completely immersed in water, is same.

Instead of water if we take a liquid lighter than water then the volume displaced by the block on complete
immersion will be the same but the buoyant force will be less. This is because the density of lighter liquid is less
than that of water.

Mass
We know that Density =
Volume
 Mass = Density × Volume

For lighter liquids, the mass of the liquid displaced is less even when the volume displaced is the same.

CONCLUSION 2:

Buoyant force  Density of liquid

i.e., Buoyant force  d

It has also been found that buoyant force also depends on the acceleration due to gravity.

CONCLUSION 3 :

Buoyant force  g

If we combine all the three, we get

Buoyant force  V dg

 Buoyant force  mg [mass = V × d]

 Buoyant force  Weight of the liquid displaced

Note: A body placed in a gaseous medium is also acted by the upthrust equal to the weight of the
gas displaced.

The above facts has been summarised in Archimedes principle which states that the upward force acting on
a solid body which is partially or completely immersed in a fluid, is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced.

This upward force is called buoyant force or upthrust.

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 PHYSICS
APPLICATIONS OF ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE
1. In designing ships and submarines.
2. Lactometer is based on the Archimedes principle. It is used to determine the purity of a sample of milk.
3. Hydrometer is also based on the Archimedes principle. It is used to determine the density of liquids.
(a) Ships :
Although it is made of iron and steel which are materials denser than water a ship floats in water. This is due to
the fact that a floating ship displaces a weight of water equal to its own weight including that of the cargo. The
volume of the ship is much larger than the volume of the material with which it is made. Since the empty space
in the ship contains air therefore its average density is less than the density of water. Thus a ship floats with a
small section under water.

A ship has to move in waters of different seas which have different densities. As a result it sinks more in water
with less density than in water with more density. Therefore ships are marked with white lines on its sides called
load lines of pimsoll marks. The load lines (called tha Plimsoll mark) on the side of a ship of a ship show how low
in the water it can lie and still be safely and legally loaded under different conditions.
(b) Submarines :
A submarine, figure sinks by taking water into its buoyancy tanks. Once submeged, the upthrust is unchanged
but the weight of the submarine increases with the inflow of water and it sinks faster. To surface, compressed air
is used to blow the water out of the tanks.

Each submarine is provided with ballast tanks. If the submarine has to submerge these tanks are filled with
water. This makes the average density of the submarine greater than that of water as a result it sinks. When the
submarine has to be surfaced, compressed air is blown into these tanks to expel the water. Again the average
density of the submarine becomes less than that of water, hence it floats.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX

SOLVED EXEMPLES
1. What is the force of gravitation between two point masses of 1 kg and 2 kg kept 1 m apart ?
Sol. m = 1 kg, m2 = 2 kg, r=1m

m1 m 2 1 2
F=G 2 = 6.67 x 10–11 × = 13.34 × 10–11 N.
r 12

This is an extremely small force.

2. Calculate the force of gravitation between the earth and the sun.
Mass of Earth = 6 × 1024 kg, Mass of Sun = 2 × 1030 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 × 1011m.

Gm 1 m 2
Sol. F =
r2

6 .67 × 10 –11 × 6 × 10 24  2  10 3 0
=
(1.5 × 10 1 1 )2

 .67  6  2   10  10 
24 30
=      10 1 1  = 35.57 × 1021 N
 1.5  1.5   10  10
11 11


3. Write down the expression for acceleration experienced by a particle on the surface of the moon
due to gravitational force on the moon. Find the ratio of this acceleration to that experienced by the
same particle on the surface of the earth. If the acceleration due to gravity on the earth is 9.8 ms–
2
, what is the acceleration of a particle on the moon's surface? Mass of moon = 7.3 × 1022 kg; Mass
of Earth = 6 × 1024 kg. Radius of moon= 1.74 × 106 m, Radius of earth = 6.4 × 106 m.
Sol. Acceleration on moon

GMm
gm 
R 2m

Also acceleration on the surface of Earth

GME
gE 
R 2E

Dividing (1) by (2)

g m GMm R 2E Mm R 2E
  
gE R 2E GME R 2m ME

7.3 × 10 22 × 6.4 × 10 6 × 6.4 × 10 6

=
1.74 × 10 6 × 1.74 × 10 6 × 6 × 10 24

7.3 × 6.4 × 6.4

=
1 .74 × 1.74 × 6 × 10 0

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 PHYSICS

gm
g E = 0.16

gm =0.16 × gE = 0.16 × 9.8 = 1.57 ms–2

4. Find the value of acceleration due to gravity at a height of (a) 6400 km, (b) 12,800 km from the
surface of the earth. Radius of earth is 6400 km.

GM
Sol. We know that gh =
(R  h)2
B

GM 6400km
Also g= A
R2
6400km
gh R2
 
g (R  h)2
R 6400km

2
O
 R 
 gh = g  
Rh

(a) g = 9.8 ms–2, R = 6400 km, R + h = 6400 + 6400 = 12800 km

2 2
As h increases g h
 6400  1  9.8 dec reases. T his is
 (gh)A = 9.8   = 9.8   = = 2.45 ms–2
12800  2  4 bec ause gh and h
are in ver sely related.
2 2
 6400  1 
(b) (gh)B = 9.8    9.8   = 1.09 ms–2
 6400  12800  3 

5. A particle is thrown up vertically with a velocity of 50 m/s. (a) What will be its velocity at the
highest point of its journey? (b) How high would the particle rise? (c) What time would it take to
reach the highest point.

Sol. At the highest point the velocity will be zero.

Considering activity A to B

Using v = u + at
v= 0
B t=?
0 = 50 – 9.8 × t
a = –9.8 ms–2
50 s=?
 t= = 5.1 s
9 .8
Also v2 – u2 = 2as

02 – (50)2 = 2 (–9.8) × s
A u = 50 m/ s
50  50 ///////////////////////
 5= = 127.5 m
2  9.8

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
6. With reference to the above sample problem, (a) Find the time the particle takes from the highest
point back to the initial point (b) Find the velocity with which the particle reaches the initial point.
Sol. The data is given in the adjacent figure. Considering activity B to A

Using v2 – u2 = 2as v= 0
A A
s = 127.5 m
a = +9.8 ms–2
v2 – 02 = 5(9.8)(127.5)
t=?
v= ?
v = 50 m/s
t t
Also v = u + at
v
 50 = 0 + 9.8 (t)
B B v
 t = 5.1 s

7. A ball is dropped from the top of a tower 40 m high. What is its velocity when it has covered 20 m
? What would be its velocity when it hits the ground? Take g= 10 m/s2.
Sol. Let the point B be at a height of 20 m. A
u1 = 0
2
a1 = 10 m/ s
Activity from A to B : s = 20m
t=?
u1 = 0, a1 = 10 ms–2, s1 = 20 m, v1 = ? v1 = ?
40m B
v12 - u12 = 2a1s1

 v12 - 02 = 2 (10) (20)

20m
 v1
2
=20
2
C

v1 = 20 m/s

Activity from A to C : C is a point on the ground

u2 = 0, a2 = 10 ms–2, s2 = 40 m, v2 = ?

 v22 – u22 = 2a2s2

 v22 – 02 = 2 (10) (40)

 v22 = 800

 v2 = 28.28 ms–1

8. A body is thrown up with a speed 29.4 ms–1.

(a) What is its speed after (i) t = 1 s, (ii) t = 2 s and (iii) t = 3 s.

(b) What is its height after (i) t = 1 s, (ii) t = 2 s and (iii) t = 3 s.

Sol. (a) (
i
) u = 29.4 ms–1, a = –9.8 ms–2, t1 = 1 s, v1 = ?

v1 = u + at1

= 29.4 + (–9.8) x 1 = 19.6 ms–1

(i) u = 29.4 ms, a = -9.8 ms–2, t2 = 2 s, v2 = ?

v2 = u + at2

= 29.4 + (–9.8) × 2 = 9.8 ms–1

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 PHYSICS
(iii) u = 29.4 ms–1, a = –9.8 ms–2, t3 = 3 s, v3 = ?

v3 = u + at3

= 29.4 + (–9.8) × 3 = 0

(b) (
i
) u = 29.4 ms–1, a = –9.8 ms–2, s1 = h1 , t1 = 1s

1 1
h1 = ut1 + at12 =29.4 × 1+ (–9.8) × 1 =24.5m
2 2
(i) u = 29.4 ms–1, a = -9.8 ms–2, s2 = h2, t2 = 2 s

1 2 1
h2 = ut2 + at2 = 29.4 × 2 + (–9.8) × 22 = 39.2 m
2 2
(iii) u = 29.4 ms–1, a = –9.8 ms–2, s3 = h3, t3 = 3 s

1 2 1
h3 = ut3 + at3 = 29.4 x 3 + (–9.8) × 32 = 44.1 m
2 2
9. What is the weight of a person whose mass is 50 kg.

Sol. The weight of the person

W = mg = 50 x 9.8 = 490 N

Note: The gravitational unit of force is kg-f (kilogram force) or kg-wt (kilogram weight) 1 kg-wt = 9.8 N = 1 kg-f

 490 N = 50 kg-f

10. Weight of a girl is 294 N. Find her mass.

Sol. W = mg

294 = m × 9.8

2 94
m= = 30 kg
9 .8

11. Weight of an object is 294 N on the surface of the earth. What is its weight at a height of 200 km
from the surface of the earth. Radius of the earth= 6400 km.

Sol. Weight at a height of 200 km

Wh = mgh

 R 
2   R  
2

= mg    g h  g   
Rh   R  h  

Here mg = 294 N, R = 6400 km, h= 200 km

2 2
 6400   6400 
Wh = 294   = 294   = 276.45 N
 6400  200   6600 

Note: Weight decreases with increase of height from the surface of the earth.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
12. The gravitational force between two objects is F. How will this force change when
(i) distance between them is reduced to half ?
(ii) the mass of each object is quadrupled ?
Sol. (
i
) According to Newton's law of gravitation, gravitational force F between two objects distance r apart is
1
F
r2
1
When distance between them is reduced to half, i.e., r' = r/2, the force, F ' 
r' 2

F ' r2 r2
Thus,  2  = 4 or F' = 4F
F r' (r / 2 )2

i.e., force becomes 4 times its previous value. "

(ii) Again, according to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force F between two'objects of masses
m1 and m2 is
F  m 1m2
When mass of each object is quadrupled,
m'1 = 4m1
and m'2 = 4m2
The force, F '  m'1m'2
F ' m '1 m '2 (4m 1 )(4 m 2 )
Thus, F  m m  m1 m 2 = 16
1 2

or F' = 16 F
i.e., force becomes 16 times its previous value.
13. A sphere of mass 40 kg is attracted by a second sphere of mass 15 kg when their centres are 20
cm apart, with a force of 0·1 milligram weight. Calculate the value of gravitational constant.
Sol. Here, m1 = 40 kg, m2 = 15 kg
20
From r = 20cm = = 2 × 10–1 m
100
F = 0·1 milligram weight = 0·1 × 10–3 gram weight
= 10–4 × 10–3 kg wt = 10–7 × 9·8 N (1 kg wt = 9.8 N)
Gm 1 m 2
From F =
r2
F  r 2 10 7  9 .8  (2  1 0 1 )2
G = 
m1 m 2 40  1 5
G = 6·53 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
14. Calculate the force of gravity acting on your friend of mass 60 kg. Given mass of earth = 6 x 1024
kg and radius of Earth = 6·4 x 106 m.
Sol. Here, m = 60 kg, M = 6 × 1024 kg
R = 6·4 × 106 m, F = ?
G = 6·67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2
GMm
Thus, F =
R2
6 ·6 7 × 10 –1 1 × 6 × 1 0 24 × 60
or F
(6.4 × 1 0 6 )2
or F = 58·62 N

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 PHYSICS
15. A particle is thrown up vertically with a velocity of 50 m/s. What will be its velocity at the highest point
of the journey? How high would the particle rise ? What time would it take to reach the highest point?
Take g = 10 m/s2.
Sol. Here, initialvelocity, u = 50 m/s
finalvelocity, v=?
height covered, h=?
time taken, t=?
g = 10 m/s2
At the highest point, final velocity v = 0
From v2 – u2 = 2 gh, where g = – 10 m/s2 for upward journey,
0 – (50)2 = 2 (–10) h

2 50 0
h= = 125 m
2 0

From v = u + gt,
or 0 = 50 + (–10) t
t = 50/10 = 5 s
16. A force of 15 N is uniformly distributed over an area of 150 m2. Find the pressure in pascals.
Sol. Here, force, F = 15 N
area, A = 150 cm2 = 150 × 10–4 m2 (1 cm = 10–2 m, 1 cm2 = 10–4 m2)

F 15 N
Thus, pressure, P =  = 1000 Pa
A 15 0  10 4 m 2

17. How much force should be applied on an area of 1 cm2 to get a pressure of 15 Pa ?
Sol. Here, area, A = 1 cm2 = 10–4 m2
pressure, P = 15 Pa = 15 N/m2

F
As P= , F = P × A = (15 N/m2) × (10–4 m2) = 1·5 x 10–3 N
A

18. A block weighing 1·0 kg is in the shape of a cube of length 10 cm. It is kept on a horizontal table.
Find the pressure on the portion of the table where the block is kept.
Sol. Here, force acting on the table, F = 1·0 kg = 10 N
area of the table on which this force acts, A = 10 cm × 10 cm = 100 cm2
= 100 × 10–4 m2 = 10–2 m2 (1 cm2 = 10–4 m2)

F 1 0N
Pressure on the table, P =  = 1000 Pa
A 10 2 m 2

19. The pressure due to atmosphere is 1·013 × 105 Pa. Find the force exerted by the atmosphere on the
top surface of a table 2·0 m long and 1·0 m wide.
Sol. Here, pressure due to the atmosphere, P = 1·013 × 105 Pa = 1·013 x 105 N/m2
area on which atmospheric pressure acts, A = 2·0 m × 1·0 m = 2·0 m2
Thus, force exerted by the atmosphere, F = PA = (1·013 × 105 N/m2) x (2·0 m2) = 2·026 × 105 N

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX

EXERCISE -1 FOR SCHOOL EXAMINATION

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
1. If a rock is brought from the surface of the moon,

(A) its mass will change (B) its weight will change but not mass

(C) both mass and weight will change (D) its mass and weight both will remain same

2. A body is weighed at the poles and then at the equator. The weight

(A) at the equator will be greater than at the poles

(B) at the poles will be greater than at the equator

(C) at the poles will be equal to the weight at the equator

(D) depends upon the object

3. Consider a satellite going round the earth in a circular orbit. Which of the following statements is wrong ?

(A) It is a freelyfalling body.

(B) It is moving with constant speed.

(C) It is acted upon by a force directed away from the centre of the earth which counter-balances the gravitational
pull

(el) Its angular momentum remains constant

4. A missile is launched with a velocity less than the escape velocity. The sum of its kinetic and potential energy is

(A)positive

(B) negative

(C) zero

(D) may be positive or negative depending upon its initial velocity

5. SI unit of g is

(A) m2/s (C) s/m2 (B) m/s2 (D) m/s

6. SI unit of G is

(A) N2–m2/kg (B) N–m2/kg (C) N–m/kg (D) N -m2/kg2

7. Choose the correct statement of the following:

(A) All bodies repel each other in this universe. (B) Our earth does not behave like a magnet.

(C) Acceleration due to gravity is 8.9 m/s2. (D) All bodies fall at the same rate in vacuum.

8. Maximum weight of a body is

(A) at the centre of the earth (B) inside the earth

(C) on the surface of the earth (D) above the surface of earth

9. If the distance between two masses be doubled, then the force between them will become

1 1
(A) times (B) 4 times (C) times (D) 2 times
4 2

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 PHYSICS
10. A body falls freely towards the earth with

(A) uniform speed (B) uniform velocity

(C) uniform acceleration (D) none of these

11. If the mass of a body is M on the sufrace of the earth, then its mass on the surface of the moon will be

M
(A) (B) M (C) M + 6 (D) zero
6
12. Weight

(A) is a vector quantity (B) of a body in interplanetary space is maximum

(C) increases when the bodies go up (D) none of these

13. The value of g near the earth's surface is

(A) 8.9 m/s2 (B) 8.9 m/s (C) 9.8 m/s2 (el) 9.8 m/s

14. A geostationary satellite

(A) moves faster than the near earth satellite

(B) has a time period less that of a near earth satellite

(C) revolves about the polar axis

(D) is stationary in space

15. The force of gravitation between two bodies depend upon

(A) their separation (B) gravitational constant

(C) product of their masses (D) all of these

16. When an object is thrown up, the force of gravity

(A) acts in the direction of the motion (B) acts in the opposite direction of the motion

(C) remains constant as the body moves up (D) increases as the body moves up

17. The force of gravitation exists

(A) everywhere in the universe (B) at the surface of the earth only

(C) inside the earth only (D) at the surface of the moon only

18. 1 kg wt is equal to

(A) 9.8 N (B) 980N (C) 98 N (D) none of these

19. 1 kg wt is equal to

(A) 980 dynes (B) 9.80 dynes (C) 98 dynes (D) none of these

20. The value of G does not depend on

(A) nature of the interacting bodies

(B) size of the interacting bodies

(C) mass of the interacting bodies
(D) all of these

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
MATCH THE COLUMN
SINGLE COLUMN (MATRIX)
1. CLOUMN-I COLUMN-II
(A) Attraction between two planets (p) gravity
(B) Attraction between a body and a planet (q) weightlessness
(C) Freefall (r) gravitational force
(D) Weight (s) gravitation
2. CLOUMN-I COLUMN-II
(A) A body falling freely (p) displacement
(B) Distance with direction (q) velocity
(C) Speed with direction (r) acceleration
(D) Rate of change of velocity (s) uniformly accelerated motion
3. CLOUMN-I COLUMN-II
(A) Wide straps of school bags (p) motion of planets around the sun.
(B) Archimedes principle (q) weight of an object
(C) Gravitational force (r) submarine
(D) Upthrust (s) balloons
(
t
) to reduce pressure
4. CLOUMN-I COLUMN-II
(A) Loss in weight (p) gravitational force
(B) Motion of moon around the earth (q) upthrust
(C) Airship (r) increasing pressure
(D) Sharp tip of a needle (s) archimedes principle
(
t
) centripetal force

MARK THE STATEMENT TRUE OR FALSE :

1. The force of attraction between two bodies is called gravity.
2. The value of G depends upon the mass of two objects.
3. If a spring balance, holding a heavy object is released, it will read zero weight.
4. The value of G is high if the radius of the body is more and less if radius is less.
5. The centre of mass and centre of gravity for a small body lie at the same point.
6. The gravitational force between two bodies changes if a material body is placed between them.
7. The acceleration of a body thrown up is numerically the same as the acceleration of a downward falling body but
opposite is sign.
8. The value of g is zero at the centre of the earth.
9. The inertia of an object depends upon its mass.
10. All objects attract each other along the line joining their centre of mass.
GM
11. Acceleration due to gravity, g = 2 , where symbols have their usual meanings.
R
12. Relative density has no unit.
13. Archimedes' principle does not apply to gases.
14. Any solid will sink in water if its relative density is less than unity.

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 PHYSICS

FILL IN THE BLANKS :

1. .................... is the force of attraction between any two bodies in the universe.
2. .................... is the force of attraction between a body and a planet.
3. Acceleration due to gravity .................... with height from the surface of the earth.
4. Acceleration due to gravity .................... with depth from the surface of the earth.
5. Acceleration due to gravity is a maximum at the ....................
6. .................... ofa body changes from place to place but its .................... remains constant.
7. The upward force experienced by a body immersed partially or fully in a fluid is called ....................
8. Density of a substance is defined as the ratio of the mass of a body to its ....................
9. Relative density of a substance is defined as the ratio of the density of the substance to the density of water at
....................
10. In cgs the relative density of a substance is .................... equal to its density in gcm–3.
11. The combined weight of the sinker and cork is .................... than the weight of the sinker alone.
12. For a body to float the density of the floating object should be .................... than or equal to the density of the
liquidin whichit istofloat.
13. Thecentre of....................isa point,where thetotal upthrust, duetofluiddisplaced by part.................... of
body acts.
14. Afish....................bysqueezingoutair,fromits....................
15. When a body is partly or wholly immersed in a .................... , it experience an ....................
16. Anicebergfloatswith....................ofitsvolumebelow....................
17. TheunitofupthrustinSIis....................
18. Lactometerisusedtomeasure....................of....................
19. A hydrometer sinks .................... in water than in pure milk.
20. Thedensityofhotairis....................thatofcoldair.

ANSWER KEY
Que . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ans . B B C B B D D C A C
Que . 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans . B A C C D B A A A D

MATCH THE COLUMN

1. (A  s), (B  p), (C  q), (D  r) 2. (A  s), (B  p), (C  q), (D  r)
3. (A  t), (B  r, s), (C  p, q) (D  r, s) 4. (A  q, s), (B  p,t), (C  q, s), (D  r)
TRUE & FALSE
1. False 2. False 3. True 4. True 5. True 6. False 7. True
8. True 9. True 10. True 11. True 12. True 13. False 14. False
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. gravitation 2. gravity 3. decreases 4. decreases
5. poles 6. weight, mass 7. buoyant force 8. volume
9. 4°C 10. numerically 11. less 12. less
13. buoyancy, the immersed 14. dives, floating tube 15. fluid, upthrust 16. 11/12, water
17. Newton 18. purity, milk 19. more 20. less than

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
EXERCISE -2 FOR SCHOOL EXAMINATION
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Who gave the Universal law of gravitation
Ans. Issac Newton gave the universal law of gravitation.
2. What do you mean by gravitation ?
Ans. The force of attraction between any two particles in the universe is called gravitation.
3. State Universal law of gravitation.
Ans. The force of attraction between two particles or objects is (i) directly proportional to the product of the masses
of the objects and (ii) inversly proportional to the square of the distance between them.
4. Write an expression for the gravitational force between the earth and a body on the earth.
Ans. F= GMm/r2 , where M is the mass of the earth, m is the mass of the body, r is the radius of the earth
and G is
5. The distance between two particles is decreased. Will the gravitational force between them increase or decrease?
Ans. F  1/r2. So, gravitational force (F) increases when the distance (r) decreases.
6. An iron ball exerts a force F on the rubber ball. How much force, the, rubber ball will exert on the iron
ball ?
Ans. The rubber ball also exerts the same force F on the iron ball.
7. Define Universal gravitational constant (G)..
Ans. Universal gravitational constant is defined as the force of attraction between two objects of unit masses separated
by unit distance.
8. Write down the unit of ‘G’ in S.I.
Ans. Nm2 /kg2.
9. What is the value of ‘G’ ?
Ans. G= 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2/Kg2.
10. The value of G = 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2 kg–2 on the surface of the earth. What is the value of G on the surface
of the moon ?
Ans. The value of G on the surface of the moon = value of G on the surface of the earth (i.e., 6.673 × 10–11
Nm2 kg–2)
11. The gravitational force between the earth and an object is known as ............
Ans. Gravity or force of gravity.
12. The gravitational force between two objects on the earth is 2 N. What will be the gravitational force between
these two objects on the surface of the moon ?
Ans. Same force i.e. 2 N.
13. Tides in oceans are formed due to gravitational force between ...........and.............
Ans. the moon, the earth.
14. Name the force which is responsible for the revolution of planets around the sun.
Ans. Gravitational force of attraction between the planet and the sun. This force provides the necessary centripetal
force to the planet to move in a circular orbit around the sun.

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 PHYSICS
15. Name the force which is responsible for the revolution of moon around the earth.
Ans. The Gravitational force between the earth and the moon provides the centripetal force to the moon to move
in a circular path around the earth.
16. The gravitational force between two bodies varies with r as (a) 1/r (b) 1/r2 (c) r2 (d) r
Ans. (b)
17. Is acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon less or more than the acceleration due to gravity on
the surface of earth ?
Ans. Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is less than that on the surface of the earth.
18. Write the expression for the acceleration due to gravity.
g = GM/R2
19. What is the SI unit of acceleration due to gravity (g)
Ans. ms–2
20. What is the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth ?
Ans. g = 9.8 ms–2
21. Is acceleration due to gravity a scalar or a vector quantity ?
Ans. It is a vector quantity.
22. What is the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon ?
Ans. g = 1.6 ms–2 on the surface of moon.
23. Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon = ........ × Acceleration due to gravity on the surface
of the earth.
Ans. 1/6
24. Where is the acceleration due to gravity more : at poles or at equator ?
Ans. At poles
25. What is the value of '9' at the centre of the earth ?
Ans. Zero.
26. What will be the direction of acceleration due to gravity if the body is thrown vertically upward ?
Ans. The direction of acceleration due to gravity is always towards the centre of the earth i.e. in the downward
direction.
27. Define mass of a body.
Ans. Mass of a body is defined as the quantity of matter contained in the body.
28. Why is mass known as inertial mass ?
Ans. Since mass is a measure of the inertia of a body, so the mass is known as inertial mass.
29. What is the SI unit of mass ?
Ans. S.I. unit of mass is kilogram
30. Is mass of a body a scalar or a vector physical quantity.
Ans. Mass is a scalar physical quantity.
31. The mass of a body at the equator is 20 kg. What will be the mass of this body at the poles ?
Ans. 20 kg.
32. Define weight of a body.
Ans. The force with which a body is attracted by the earth is known as the weight of the body.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
33. Write a relation between the mass and weight of the body.
Ans. W = mg
34. State the SI unit of weight.
Ans. S.I. unit of weight is newton (N).
35. Is weight of a body a scalar or a vector quantity ?
Ans. Weight is a vector quantity.
36. The weight of a body on the earth is 60 N. What is the weight of the body on the moon ?
Ans. Weight on the moon = 1/6 × 60 N = 10 N
37. Define ‘thrust’.
Ans. The total force exerted by a body perpendicular to the surface is known as thrust.
38. What is the unit of thrust in SI ?
Ans. S.I. unit of thrust is newton (N).
39. Define the term ‘pressure’.
Ans. Pressure is defined as the force acting perpendicular on unit area of the surface.
40. Name the SI unit of pressure.
Ans. S.I. unit of pressure is N/m2 or pascal.
41. Write the relationship between thrust and pressure. Thrust
Ans. Pressure = Thrust / Area
42. What is meant by upthrust or buoyant force ?
Ans. The upward force exerted by a liquid on a body which is immersed in the liquid is known as upthrust or
buoyant force.
43. Define the term “buoyancy”.
Ans. The tendency of an object to float in a liquid is called buoyancy.
44. State the factors on which upthrust or buoyant force depends.
Ans. (i) Size or volume of body immersed in a liquid.
(ii) Density of the liquid in which the body is immersed.
45. Define density.
Ans. Density of a body is defined as mass per unit volume.
46. Give SI unit of density.
Ans. S.I. unit of density is kg/m3 (kg M–3).
47. The density of silver is 10500 kg M–3. Explain this statement.
Ans. One cubic metre of silver has 10500 kg mass.
48. Define relative density of a substance.
Ans. It is defined as the ratio of the density of the substance to the density of water.
49. Relative density of aluminium is 2.7. Explain this statement.
Ans. Aluminium is 2.7 times heavier than the equal volume of water.
50. The density of a solid is 7.9 g cm–3 in air. What is the density of the solid in SI unit ?
Ans. Density = 7.9 g cm–3 = 7.9 × 1000 kg M–3 = 7.9 × 103 kg M–3.

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 PHYSICS
UNDERSTANDING BASE QUESTIONS :-
1. In what sense does the moon fall towards the earth ? Why does it not actually fall on the surface of earth ?
2. If the earth attracts an apple. Does the apple also attract the earth? If so, why does the earth not move towards
the apple ?
3. If the force of gravity somehow vanished away, why would we sent flying in space ?
4. There are two kinds of balances, that is, a beam balance and a spring balance. If both the balances give same
measure of a given body on the surface of the earth, will they give same measure on the surface of moon ?
Explain your answer.
5. A bag of sugar weighs W at some place on the equator. If this bag is taken to Antarctica, will it weigh same, more
or less ? Give a reason for your answer.
6. Which is greater : the attraction of Earth for 1 kg of lead or attraction of 1 kg lead for earth ?
7. The weight of a man on the earth is 100 kg. Does this weight on the moon increase or decrease ?
8. When dropped from the same height a body reaches the ground quicker at poles than at the equator. Why ?
9. What would be the effect on the weight of a body if the earth stopped rotating ?
10. A man at the top of a tower throws and object horizontally whereas he simply drops another. Will these two
objects reach the earth at the same time ?
11. If gravitation is the power by which all bodies tend to towards each other, then why do all bodies tend towards the
centre of the earth ?
12. What is weightlessness ?
13. Why is the bottom part of the foundation of a building made wider ?
14. Why cutting instruments are sharpened ?
15. Explain why it is difficult to push a tin can into water keeping its mouth upwards than when its mouth is kept
downwards towards the water.
16. A piece of ice is gently placed on the surface of water filled in glass tumbler, so the water rises to the brim. What
will happen to the level of water when the ice melts ? Will the water overflow ? If not, explain with reason.
17. You are provided with a hollow iron ball of volume 20 cm3, a mass of 15 g and a solid iron ball of mass 20 g.
Both are placed on the surface of water contained in a large tub. Which will float ? Give reason for your answer.
18. Explain the following :
(
i
) Icebergs floating in the sea are dangerous for the ship.
(ii) An egg sinks in fresh water but floats in a strong solution of salt.
(iii) An iron nail sinks in water but a ship made of iron floats.
(iv) A ship sinks to a great depth in river water than in sea water.
(v) It is easier for a man to swim in sea water than in river water.
(vi) A dead body floats, with its head immersed in water.
19. A solid brass cylinder tied to a thread is hanging from the hook of a spring balance. The cylinder is gradually
dipped into the water contained in a jar. What change do you expect in the reading of the spring balance ? Give
reason for your answer.
20. If a solid of the same density as that of a liquid is placed in it, what will happen to the solid ?

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
HIGH ORDER THINKING SKILL QUESTIONS
1. Newton's law of gravitation is called universal law. Why ?
2. According to Newton's law of gravitation, every, particle of matter attracts every other particle. But bodies on
the surface of earth never move towards each other on account of this force of attraction, why ?
3. What is the nature of motion of an object falling freely under the action of gravity ?
4. Will a body weight more on equator or on pole ?
5. Earth is continuously pulling the moon towards its centre, still it does not fall to the earth, why ?
6. How does acceleration due to gravity depend on the mass of planet ?
7. If the diameter of the earth becomes two times its present value and its mass remains unchanged, then how
would the weight of an object on the surface of the earth be affected ?
8. Choose the correct alternative :
(a) Acceleration due to gravity increases/decreases with increasing altitude.
(b) Acceleration due to gravity increases/decreases with increasing depth.
(c) Acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the earth/mass of the body.
9. A person can jump higher on the surface of the moon than on the earth. Why ?
10. A glass jar contains a liquid of density 'd' upto a height of 'h' at a place where acceleration due to gravity is 'g', the
atmospheric pressure is PA :
(
i
) What is the pressure at the free surface of the liquid ?
(ii) Write an expansion for the total pressure at the base of the jar.
11. Explain why a gas bubble released at the bottom of a lake grows in size as it rises to the surface of the lake.
12. A body dipped into a liquid experiences an upthrust. State the factors on which the upthrust on the body
depends.
13. Explain briefly why a balloon filled with helium gas rises in air. Why does the balloon rise to a particular height
above the ground and does not rise further ?
14. Will a body weigh more in air or in vacuum when weighed with a spring balance ? Give a reason for your answer.
NUMERICAL PROBLEMS
1. What is the gravitational acceleration of a spaceship at a distance equal to two Earth's radius from the centre of
the Earth?
2. A boy on a cliff 49 m high drops a stone. One second later, he throws a second stone after the ftrst. They both
hit the ground at the same time. With what speed did he throw the second stone ?
3. A stone drops from the edge of the roof. It passes a window 2 m high in 0·1 s. How far is the roof above the top
of the window?
4. A particle is dropped from a tower 180 m high. How long does it take to reach the ground? What is the velocity
when it tourhes the ground ? Take g = 10 m/s2.
5. To estimate the height of a bridge over a river, a stone is dropped freely on the river from the bridge. The stone
takes 2 s to touch the water surface in the river. Calculate the height of the bridge from the water level. Take
g = 9·8 m/s2.
6. How much would a 70 kg man weigh on moon? What will be his mass on Earth and Moon? Given g on Moon =
1·7 m/s2.
7. A body has a weight of 10 kg on the surface of Earth. What will be its mass and weight when taken to the centre
of Earth?
8. A force of 2 kg wt acts on a body of mass 4·9 kg. Calculate its acceleration.

138
 PHYSICS
9. A force of 20 N acts upon a body whose weight is 9·8 N. What is the mass of the body and how much is its
acceleration ?
10. A man weighs 600 N on the Earth. What is its mass? Take g = 10 m/s2. If he were taken on Moon, his weight
would be 100 N. What is his mass on Moon? What is acceleration due to gravity on Moon?
11. A car falls off a ledge and drops to the ground in 0·5 s. Let g = 10 m/s2 (for simplifying the calculations). (i) What
is its speed on striking the ground? (ii) What is its average speed during 0·5 s ? (iii) How high is the ledge from the
ground?
12. An object is thrown vertically upwards and rises to a height of 10 m. Calculate (i) the velocity with which the
object was thrown upwards and (ii) the time taken by the object to reach the highest point.
13. Mass of an object is 10 kg. What is its weight on Earth?
14. An object weighs 10 N when measured on the surface of the Earth. What would be its weight when measured
on the surface of Moon ?
15. Calculate the value of acceleration due to gravity on Moon. Given mass of Moon = 7·4 × 1022 kg, radius of Moon
= 1740 km.
16. Suppose a planet exists whose mass and radius both are half those of Earth. Calculate the acceleration due to
gravity on the surface of this planet.
17. A ball is thrown up with a speed of 15 m/s. How high will it go before it begins to fall? Take g = 9·8 m/s2.
18. A block of wood is kept on a tabletop. The mass of wooden block is 5 kg and its dimensions are 40 cm × 20 cm
× 10 cm. Find the pressure exerted by the wooden block on the table top if it is made to lie on the table top with
its sides of dimensions (a) 20 cm × 10 cm and (b) 40 cm × 20 cm.
19. Relative density of silver is 10.8. The density of water is 103 kg m–3. What is the density of silver in SI unit ?
20. How does the force of gravitation between two objects change when the distance between them is reduced to
half?
21. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall faster
than a light object?
22. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and a 1 kg object on its surface? (Mass of the
earth is 6 × 1024 kg and radius of the earth is 6.4 × 106 m.)
1
23. Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is only as strong as gravitational force on the earth. What is
6
the weight in newtons of a 10 kg object on the moon and on the earth?
24. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 m/s.
Calculate
(
i
) the maximum height to which it rises,
(il) the total time it takes to return to the surface of the earth.
25. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its final velocity just before touching the
ground.
26. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 m/s. Taking g = 10 m/s2, find the maximum
height reached by the stone. What is the net displacement and the total distance covered by the stone?
27. Calculate the force of gravitation between the earth and the Sun, given that the mass of the earth = 6 × 1024 kg
and of the Sun = 2 × 1030 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 × 1011 m.

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER 2010 PROVIDED BY CBSE :-
1. Why it is painful to walk bare footed on a road covered with edge peddles ?
2. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is cramplet into a ball ?
3. Why does a wooden block float and an iron block sink when both are placed on the surface of water ?
4. The gravitational force of the attraction between two masses is 16 N. What would be force of attraction between
them if each mass and the distance between them are doubled ?
5. A stone is dropped from the edge of the roof
(a) How long does it take to fall 4.9 m ?
(b) How fast does it more at the end of the roof
(c) What is its acceleration after 1 sec. and 2 sec. ? [Given g = 9.8 m/s2]
6. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 m/s. taking g = 10 m/s2. Find the maximum
height reached by the stone. What is the net displacement and the total distance covered by the stone ?
7. A man weighs 600 N on the earth. What is his mass ? [g = 10 m/s2]. If they were taken to the moon, his weight
would be 100 N. What is his mass on the moon ? What is the acceleration due to gravity on the moon ?
8. Show that if two objects of different masses are released simultaneously from the same height, they will reach
the ground at the same time.
9. Calculate the force of gravitation between the Earth and the sun given that the mass of earth Me = 6 × 1024 kg,
Mm = 2 × 1030 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 × 1011 m.
10. (
i
) State the universal law of Gravitation
(ii) Give any two differences between mass and weight.
(iii) What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and 1 kg object on its surface ?
[Me = 6 × 1024 kg, Re = 6.4 × 106 m]
11. (
i
) State Archimedis principle.
(ii) Define upthrust and write the related parameter.
(iii) When a body is slowly raised up from bottom of a tank using a string. Which of the following two quantities-
upthrust or weight change ? Why ?
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (5 MARKS)
1. State Newton's law of gravitations. Write a mathematical expression for it.
2. What is acceleration due to gravity ? Find an expansion fot it.
3. According to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force is more if mass is more. Why then all objects fall
towards the earth with the same acceleration ?
4. Bring out the difference between mass, inertia and weight.
5. Give five points of distinction between mass and weight.
6. Mention some applications of Newton's law of gravitation.
7. Show mathematically that a body will weigh one sixth on the surface of the moon as that on the surface of the
earth.
8. What is upthrust ? What are the factors on which it depends ?
9. Show that when a body is immersed in water it loses weight.
10. Describe briefly how you can arrive at Archimedes principle theoretically.
11. Describe briefly an experiment to verify Archimedes principle.

140
 PHYSICS
12. State and prove Archimedes principle.
13. Explain how will you measure the relative density of a solid lighter than water ?
14. Explain how you will determine the relative density of a material by using Archimedes principle.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Latest research based questions :

1. Gravity bends a ray of light.
2. Gravitation is responsible for the force of gravity
Topics of group discussion / (Internet search)
1. During free fall a body weighs nothing.
2. To reduce pressure the area of the body should be large.
3. buoyancy : Effect of different factors.
Activity Based Questions :-
1. Describe an activity to show that a body loses its weight when immersed in a liquid.
2. Describe an activity to show that weight of a body inside the water is less than the weight of the body outside the
water.

Numerical Problems ANSWER KEY

1. 2-45 m/s2 2. 12·1 m/s 3. 19·4 m
4. 6 s, 60 m/s 5. 19·6 m 6. 119 N, 70 kg, 70 kg
7. 10 kg, Zero 8. 4 m/s 2
9. 1 kg, 20 m/s2
10. 60 kg, 60 kg, 1·67 m/s2 11. (i) 5 m/s (ii) 2·5 m/s (iii) 1·25 m)
12. 14 m/s, 1·43 s 13. 98 N 14. 1·67 N
15. 1·63 m/s2 16. 19·6 m/s2 17. 11·48 m
18. (i) 2459 Nm2 (ii) 612.5 Nm–2
19. 10.8 × 103 kg m–3 20. 4F 21. anet = g
22. 9.8 N
23. Weight on earth is 98 N and on moon is 16.3 N
24. Maximum height is 122.5 m and total time is 5s + 5 = 10s
25. 19.6 m/s
26. Maximum height = 80m, Net displacement = 0, Total distance covered = 160 m
27. Gravitational force = 53.36 × 1032 N

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
EXERCISE -3 FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION
1. The mass of the Jupiter is 1.9 × 1027 kg and that of the sun is 1.99 × 1038 kg. The mean distance of the Jupiter
from the sun is 7.8 × 1011 m. Speed of the Jupiter is (assuming that Jupiter moves in a circular orbit around the
sun)
(A) 1.304 × 104 m/sec (B) 13.04 × 104 m/sec
(C) 1.304 × 106 m/sec (D) 1.304 × 102 m/sec
2. The acceleration due to gravity
(A) has the same value everywhere in space
(B) has the same value everywhere on the earth
(C) varies with the latitude on the earth
(D) is greater on the moon due to its smaller diameter
3. SI unit of weight is
(A) kg wt (B) N (C) g wt (D) none of these
4. Gravitational force which acts on 1 kg is

1
(A) 9.8 N (B) N (C) 980 N (D) none of these
9 .8

5. Weight is
(A) measured by a spring balance
(B) measured by a beam balance
(C) measured in kg
(D) a scalar quantity
6. A satellite which is geostationary in a particular orbit is taken to another orbit. Its distance from the centre of
earth in new orbit is 2 times than that of the earlier orbit. The time period in the second orbit is

(A) 4.8 hours (B) 48 2 hours

(C) 24 hours (D) 24 2 hours

7. Two metal spheres of equal radius r are touching each other. The force of attraction F between them is
1
(A) F  r4 (B) F  r6 (C) F  r2 (D) F 
r2
8. A man weighs 60 kg at earth's surface. At what height above the earth's surface his weight becomes 30 kg?
(radius of earth = 6400 km).
(A) 1624 km (B) 2424 km
(C) 2624 km (D) 2826 km
9. There are two bodies of masses 100 kg and 10000 kg separated by a distance 1m. At what distance from the
smaller body, intensity of gravitational field will be zero?
1 1 1 10
(A) m (B) m (C) m (D) m
9 10 11 11

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 PHYSICS
10. At what height, is the value of g half that on the surface of earth? (R = radius of the earth)
(A) 0.414R (B) R (C) 2R (D) 3.5R
11. A planet of mass m moves around the sun of mass M in an elliptical orbit. The maximum and minimum distances
of the planet from the sun are r1 and r2 respectively. The time period ofthe planet is proportional to

3/ 2
r r  (r1  r2 )3 / 2
(A) r13/2 (B) r23/2 (C)  1 2  (D)
2 2

12. On a planet (whose size is the same and mass 4 times as that of the earth), the energy needed to lift a 2 kg mass
vertically upwards through 2 m distance on the planet is (g = 10 m/s2 on the surface of the earth)
(A) 16 joules (B) 160 joules (C) 32 joules (D) 320 joules
13. A satellite is revolving in a circular orbit at a distance of 2620 km from the surface of the earth. The time period
of revolution of the satellite is (Radius of the earth = 6380 km, mass of the earth = 6 × 1024 kg, G = 6.67 × 10–
11
N-m2/kg2)
(A) 2.35 hours (B) 23.5 hours (C) 3.25 hours (D) 32.5 hours
14. On the surface of the earth, force of gravitational attraction between two masses kept at distance d apart is
6 Newtons. If these two masses are taken to the surface of the moon and kept at the same distance d, the force
between them will be
1
(A) 1N (B) 36N (C) N (D) 6N
6
15. Time period of simple pendulum in a satellite is
(A)infinite (B) zero (C) 2 sec (D) cannot be calculated
16. A ball is dropped from a spacecraft revolving around the earth at height of 120 km. What will happen to the
ball?
(A) It will continue to move with the same speed along the original orbit of spacecraft
(B) It will move with the same speed, tangentially to the spacecraft
(C) It will fall down to the earth gradually
(D) It will go very far in space
17. The value of the acceleration due to gravity at a height of 12,800 km from the surface of the earth

 R R h 
2
(Re = 6400 km) g' = g is :-

(A) 3.09 m/s2 (B) 1.09 m/s2 (C) 4.08 m/s2 (D) 5.07 m/s2
18. The weight of a body of mass 5 kg is :-
(A) 69.0 N (B) 79.0 N (C) 49.0 N (D) 39.0 N
19. The weight of the body at the surface of the earth is 20 N and the radius of the earth is 6400 km. The weight
of a body at a height 6400 km above is :-
(A) 7 N (B) 5 N (C) 4 N (D) 6 N
20. Consider a heavenly body which has a mass twice that of the earth and a radius thrice that of the earth. The
weight of a book on this heavenly body, if its weight on the earth is 900 N will be :-
(A) 400 N (B) 600 N (C) 500 N (D) 200 N

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 CBSE : CLASS-IX
21. Two protons are kept at a separation of 1 femtometre (1 femtometre = 10–15 m). The mass of a proton is
1.67 × 10–27 kg. The gravitational force between them is :-
(A) 1.86 × 10–34 N (B) 5.86 × 10–34 N (C) 2.8 × 10–34 N (D) 4.86 × 10–34 N
22. The mass of the sun is 2.0 × 1036 kg and that of the earth is 6.0 × 1024 kg. The distance between the sun and
the earth is 1.5 × 1011 m. The gravitational force between the sun and earth is :-
(A) 3.56 × 1028 N (B) 4.56 × 1028 N (C) 6.56 × 1028 N (D) 5.56 × 1028 N
23. A particle is taken to a height of 2Re above the earth's surface, where Re is the radius of the earth. If it is
dropped from this height, its acceleration is will be :-
(A) 3.1 m/s2 (B) 5.1 m/s2 (C) 1.1 m/s2 (D) 2.1 m/s2
24. Consider a heavenly body whose mass is 3 × 1024 kg (half of that of the earth) and radius is 3200 km (half of that
of the earth). The acceleratin due to gravity at the surface of this heavenly body will be :-
(A) 39.6 m/s2 (B) 19.6 m/s2 (C) 29.6 m/s2 (D) 49.6 m/s2
25. Two bodies 'A' and 'B' having masses 'm' and '2m' respectively are kept at a distance 'd' apart. A small particle
is to be placed so that the net gravitational force on it, due to the bodies A and B, is zero. Its distance from the
mass A should be :-

d d d d
(A) x  (B) x  (C) x  (D) x 
1 2 1 4 1 3 1 6

26. Two bodies of masses 1 kg and 2 kg respectively are placed at a separation of 1 m. Find the accelerations of the
bodies assuming that only gravitational force acts between them :-
(A) 1.33 × 10–10 & 6.67 × 10–11 m/s2 (B) 1.33 × 10–11 & 6.25 × 10–11 m/s2
(C) 5.36 × 10–11 & 5.26 × 10–11 m/s2 (D) 3.11 × 10–11 & 5.26 × 10–11 m/s2
27. Communication satellites move in the orbits of radius 44,400 km around the earth. The acceleration of such a
satellite assuming that the only force acting on it is that due to the earth is :-
(A) 0.4 m/s2 (B) 0.6 m/s2 (C) 0.2 m/s2 (D) 0.1 m/s2
28. Two persons weighing 50 kg and 60 kg are seated across a table. If they are one metre apart, the gravitational
force between them is :-
(A) 5 × 10–7 N (B) 2 × 10–7 N (C) 4 × 10–7 N (D) 3 × 10–7 N
29. The mass of a planet is twice and its radius is 3 times that of the earth. The weight of a body, which has a mass
of 5 kg on the surface of the earth, on that planet is :-
(A) 11.95 N (B) 20.9 N (C) 10.85 N (D) 9.9 N
30. The height at which a body has one fourth of its weight when it is on the surface of the earth is :-
(A) At a height r where r is the radius of the earth (B) At a height 2r where r is the radius of the earth

r r
(C) At a height where r is the radius of the earth (D) At a height where r is the radius of the earth
2 4

31. A space vehicle is moving vertically upward with a constant acceleration 'a'. An astronaut of weight 'mg' feels
heavier. When will the astronants weight becomes 2 mg ?
(A) a = 2g (B) a = g/2 (C) a = g (D) a = 3g

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32. Two bodies A and B of masses 100 g and 200 g respectively are dropped near the earth's surface. Let the
accelerations of A and B be 'a1' and 'a2' respectively. Then :
(A) a1 = a2 (B) a1 < a2 (C) a1 > a2 (D) a1  a2
33. At what height will a man's weight be half his weight on the surface of earth ? (R is the radius of earth)
(A) 0.214 R (B) 0.514 R (C) 0.414 R (D) 0.516 R
34. If the radius of the earth were to be increased by a factor of 3, by what factor would its density have to be
changed to keep 'g' the same ?
(A) 3 (B) 1/3 (C) 6 (D) 1/6
35. Variation of 'g' w.r.t. height or depth is correctly represented by :-

g g
g r 2

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

R R R R

ANSWER KEY
Que . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Ans . A C B A A D A C C A C B A D A A
Que . 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Ans . B C B D A A C B A A C B C A C A
Que . 33 34 35
Ans . C B B

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Important Notes

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