Acceleration Due to Gravity and its variation - NEET Physics Questions
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Acceleration Due to Gravity and its variation

Question 11: easy

Two planets of radii in the ratio 2 : 3 are made from the material of density in the ratio 3 : 2. Then the ratio of acceleration due to gravity \( g_1 / g_2 \) at the surface of the two planets will be:

1. 1
2. 2.25
3. 4/9
4. 0.12
View Answer

Acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a planet is given by \( g = \frac{4}{3} \pi G R \rho \). Therefore, \( \frac{g_1}{g_2} = \frac{R_1}{R_2} \times \frac{\rho_1}{\rho_2} = \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{3}{2} = 1 \).

Question 12: easy

The height at which the weight of a body becomes 1/9th its weight on the surface of earth (radius of earth is R):

1. \(h = 3R\)
2. \(h = R\)
3. \(h = \frac{R}{2}\)
4. \(h = 2R\)
View Answer

Since acceleration due to gravity varies with height as \(g' = g \frac{R^2}{(R+h)^2}\), setting \(g' = g/9\) gives \(R+h = 3R\), which simplifies to \(h = 2R\).

Question 13: easy

A clock S is based on oscillation of a spring and a clock P is based on pendulum motion. Both clocks run at the same rate on earth. On a planet having the same density as earth but twice the radius:

1. S will run faster than P
2. P will run faster than S
3. They will both run at the same rate as on the earth
4. None of these
View Answer

Since \(g \propto \rho R\), on a planet with twice the radius and same density, \(g' = 2g\). Pendulum time period decreases (\(T_p = 2\pi\sqrt{l/g}\)), so clock P ticks faster. Spring clock is unaffected.

Question 14: easy

If the radius of the earth were to shrink by one percent, its mass remaining the same, the value of \(g\) on the earth’s surface would

1. increase by 0.5%
2. increase by 2%
3. decrease by 0.5%
4. decrease by 2%
View Answer

Since \(g = \frac{GM}{R^2}\), differentiating gives \(\frac{dg}{g} = -2 \frac{dR}{R}\). A -1% change in R leads to a +2% change in g.

Question 15: easy

If the earth stops rotating about its axis, the acceleration due to gravity will remain unchanged at

1. equator
2. latitude \(45^\circ\)
3. latitude \(60^\circ\)
4. poles
View Answer

The effective gravity is \(g' = g - \omega^2 R \cos^2 \theta\). At the poles, \(\theta = 90^\circ\), so \(g' = g\), which is independent of the earth's angular velocity.

Question 16: easy

An object is placed at a distance of \(R/2\) from the centre of earth. Knowing mass is distributed uniformly, acceleration of that object due to gravity at that point is: (\(g =\) acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth and \(R\) is the radius of earth)

1. \(g\)
2. \(2 g\)
3. \(g/2\)
4. none of these
View Answer

Inside the earth, the acceleration due to gravity varies linearly with distance: \(g' = \frac{gr}{R}\). For \(r = R/2\), we have \(g' = \frac{g}{2}\).

Question 17: easy

How much deep inside the earth (radius \(R\)) should a man go, so that his weight becomes one-fourth of that on the earth’s surface?

1. \(\frac{R}{4}\)
2. \(\frac{R}{2}\)
3. \(\frac{3R}{4}\)
4. None
View Answer

The acceleration due to gravity at depth \(d\) is \(g' = g \left(1 - \frac{d}{R}\right)\). Setting \(g' = g/4\), we get \(1 - \frac{d}{R} = \frac{1}{4}\) which gives \(d = \frac{3R}{4}\).

Question 18: easy

The acceleration due to gravity (on earth) depends upon

1. size of the body
2. gravitational mass of the body
3. gravitational mass of the earth
4. none of the above factors
View Answer

Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth is given by \(g = \frac{G M_e}{R_e^2}\). Hence, it depends on the mass of the earth, not on the mass or size of the falling body.

Question 19: easy

An object is placed at a distance of \(R/2\) from the centre of earth. Knowing mass is distributed uniformly, acceleration of that object due to gravity at that point is : (\(g\) = acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth and \(R\) is the radius of earth)

1. \(g\)
2. \(2 g\)
3. \(g/2\)
4. none of these
View Answer

Inside a solid sphere, the acceleration due to gravity at a distance \(r\) from the center is \(g' = \frac{g r}{R}\). For \(r = R/2\), we have \(g' = \frac{g (R/2)}{R} = g/2\).

Question 20: easy

At certain height \(h\) from surface of earth the value of \(g\) become \(6.25%\) of its value at earth surface. The ratio of \(\frac{h}{R}\) is. (\(R\) is radius of earth)

1. 3
2. 2
3. 4
4. 1
View Answer

The variation of gravity with height is \(g' = g \left(\frac{R}{R+h}\right)^2\). Given \(g' = 0.0625 g = \frac{1}{16} g\), we get \(\frac{R}{R+h} = \frac{1}{4} β‡’ R+h = 4R β‡’ h = 3R β‡’ \frac{h}{R} = 3\).