M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA– QATAR

Notes 2022- 2023

Section: Boys /Girls Date: 25/09/2022

Class & Div.: IX (All Divisions) Subject : Physics
Lesson / Topic: Gravitation
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Gravitation

Universal Law of
Free Fall Mass Weight
Gravitation

Importance of Motion of objects

To calculate the 𝑊 =𝑚×𝑔
Universal Law of under the influence
value of g
Gravitation of Gravitation pull

𝐺𝑀 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑔𝑡 Weight of an object
𝑔= 1 on the moon = 1/6
𝑅2 ℎ = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑔𝑡²
2 weight on earth

𝑣2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑔ℎ

1. State and derive universal law of gravitation.

• Universal law of gravitation: Every object in the universe attracts every other object
with a force which is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.

The force is along the line joining the centers of two objects.

Let two objects A and B of masses M and m lie at a distance of d from each other as
shown in the figure.

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 Let F be the force of attraction between two objects. According to the universal law
of gravitation

• G is called a universal constant because its value does not depend on the nature of
intervening medium or temperature or any other physical variable.

S.I. unit of G = Nm2/kg2

Value of G = 6.673 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2

(Found by Henry Cavendish)

2. Write the importance of universal law of gravitation.

A) Universal law of gravitation successfully explained several phenomena like:

(i) the force that binds us to the earth.

(ii) the motion of moon around the earth.

(iii) the motion of planets around the sun.

(iv) the tides due to the moon and the sun.

3. Define freefall. Establish the relation between G and g

A) When an object falls down towards the earth under the gravitational force alone,
we say the object is in free fall.

This acceleration is called acceleration due to gravity, denoted by ‘g’. Unit is m/s 2.

As F = ma (a = g) ...(i)

F = mg ...(ii)

M = Mass of the earth

d = Distance between the object and the earth

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 G = Gravitational constant

If the object is place on the earth, then d =R

(R = radius of the earth)

Earth is not a sphere it is flattened at poles.

4. Calculation the value of g

A)

G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2

M = 6 × 1024 kg (Mass of the earth)

R = 6.4 × 106 m

On substituting the given values

Motion of objects under the influence of gravity ‘g’ does not depend on the mass of
the body. All objects small, big, heavy, light, hollow or solid fall at same rate.

• The three equation of motion viz.

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 (iii) v2 – u2 = 2as are true for motion of objects under gravity.

For free fall, value of acceleration a = g = 9.8 ms–2.

• If an object is just let fall from a height then in that as u = 0 and a = g = 9.8 m/s2.

• If an object is projected vertically upward with an initial velocity u, then a = –g = –

9.8 ms–2 and the object will go to a maximum height h where its final velocity becomes
zero (i.e., v = 0).

5. Show that the weight of an object on moon is 1/6th of that on Earth

The weight of an object can change from one place to the other, from one planet to
the other.

Weight of an object on moon is given by the formula

Wm = weight of an object on moon

Mm = mass of the moon = 7.36 × 1022

Rm = radius of the moon = 1.74 × 106

G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/lg2

∴ Weight of an object on moon th the weight of an object on the earth.

6. What are the differences between the mass of an object and its weight?
A)
Mass Weight
1. Mass of a body is the measure of 1. Weight of the body is the force
its inertia. with which it is attracted towards the
earth (W = m x g).
2. Its S.I. unit is kg. 2. Its S.I unit is Newton.
3. It remains constant everywhere 3. Its value changes from place to
and it cannot be zero. place and it can be zero.
4. It can be measured by beam- 4. It can be measured by spring
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 balance. balance.
5. It has only magnitude i.e. it is a 5. It has both magnitude and
scalar quantity. direction i.e.

7. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is changed into ball form ?
A) This is due to the fact that air friction on sheet of paper will be more than on the
ball.

8. Difference between Gravitation Constant (G) and Gravitational

Acceleration (g)
S. No. Gravitation Constant (G) Gravitational acceleration (g)
1. Its value is 6.67×10- Its value is 9.8 m/s2.
11
Nm2/kg2.
2. It is a scalar quantity. It is a vactor quantity.
3. Its value remains constant Its value varies at various
always and everywhere. places.
4. Its unit is Nm2/kg2. Its unit is m/s2.

9. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then
does a heavy object not fall faster than a light object?
A) All objects fall on to the ground with constant acceleration called acceleration due
to gravity (g). It is constant and therefore the value of ‘g’ doesn’t depend on the mass of
the object. So heavy objects don’t fall quicker than light-weight objects provided there’s
no air resistance.
Numericals:
10. 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?
Solution:
(i) According to universal law of gravitation, the force between 2 objects (m1 and
m2) is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to
the sq. of the distance(R) between them.
F = G (m1 x m2) /RxR

If the mass is doubled for one object.

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F = 2F, so force is also doubled.
(ii) If the distance between the objects is doubled and tripled
If it’s doubled
Hence,

F = 4F, Force thus becomes one-fourth of its initial force.

If it’s tripled
Hence,

F = 9F, Force thus becomes one-ninth of its initial force.

(iii) If masses of both the objects are doubled, then

F = 4F, Force will therefore be four times greater than its actual value.
11. Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is only 1/6 as strong as
gravitational force on the earth. What is the weight in newton’s of a 10 kg object
on the moon and on the earth?
Solution:
Given data:
Acceleration due to earth’s gravity = ge or g = 9.8 m/s2
Object weight m = 10 kg
Acceleration due to moon gravity = gm
Weight on the earth= We
Weight on the moon = Wm
Weight = mass x gravity
gm = (1/6) ge (given)
So Wm = m gm = m x (1/6) ge
Wm = 10 x (1/6) x 9.8 = 16.34 N
We = m x ge = 10 x 9.8
We = 98N

12. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 m/s.

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Calculate
(i) The maximum height to which it rises,
(ii) The total time it takes to return to the surface of the earth.
Solution:
Given data:
Initial velocity u = 49m/s
Final speed v at maximum height = 0
Acceleration due to earth gravity g = -9.8 m/s2 (thus negative as ball is thrown up).
By third equation of motion,
v2 = u2 – 2gs
Substitute all the values in the above equation

Total time T = Time to ascend (Ta) + Time to descend (Td)

V = u – gt
0 = 49 – 9.8 x Ta
Ta = (49/9.8) = 5s
Also, Td = 5s
Therefore, T = Ta + Td
T=5+5
T = 10s
13. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its final
velocity just before touching the ground.
Solution:
Given data:
Initial velocity
u=0
Tower height = total distance = 19.6m
g = 9.8 m/s2
Consider third equation of motion
v2 = u2 + 2gs
v2 = 0 + 2 × 9.8 × 19.6
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v2 = 384.16
v = √(384.16)
v = 19.6m/s
14. 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?
Solution:
Given data:
Initial velocity u = 40m/s
g = 10 m/s2
Max height final velocity = 0
Consider third equation of motion
v2 = u2 – 2gs [negative as the object goes up]
0 = (40)2 – 2 x 10 x s
s = (40 x 40) / 20
Maximum height s = 80m
Total Distance = s + s = 80 + 80
Total Distance = 160m
Total displacement = 0 (The first point is the same as the last point)
15. 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.
Solution:
Given data:
Mass of the sun ms = 2 × 1030 kg
Mass of the earth me = 6 × 1024 kg
Gravitation constant G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2/ kg2
Average distance r = 1.5 × 1011 m
Consider Universal law of Gravitation

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16. 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 m/s. Calculate when and where the two stones will meet.
Solution:
Given data:
(i) When the stone from the top of the tower is thrown,
Initial velocity u = 0
Distance travelled = x
Time taken = t
Therefore,

(ii) When the stone is thrown upwards,

Initial velocity u = 25 m/s
Distance travelled = (100 – x)
Time taken = t

From equations (a) and (b)

5t2 = 100 -25t + 5t2
t = (100/25) = 4sec.
After 4sec, two stones will meet
From (a)
x = 5t2 = 5 x 4 x 4 = 80m.
Putting the value of x in (100-x)
= (100-80) = 20m.
This means that after 4sec, 2 stones meet a distance of 20 m from the ground.
17. 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 4s.
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Solution:
Given data:
g = 10m/s2
Total time T = 6sec
Ta = Td = 3sec
(a) Final velocity at maximum height v = 0
From first equation of motion: -
v = u – gta
u = v + gta
= 0 + 10 x 3
= 30m/s
The velocity with which stone was thrown up is 30m/s.
(b) From second equation of motion

The maximum height stone reaches in 45m.

(c) In 3sec, it reaches the maximum height.
Distance travelled in another 1sec = s’

The distance travelled in another 1sec = 5m.

Therefore, in 4sec, the position of point p (45 – 5)
= 40m from the ground.

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