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

Question 21: 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 22: 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 23: 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 24: 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 25: 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 26: easy

One goes from the centre of the earth to an altitude half the radius of the earth, where will the \(g\) be greatest ?

1. centre of the earth
2. At a depth half the radius of the earth
3. At the surface of the earth
4. At an altitude equal to half the radius of the earth.
View Answer

Inside the earth, \(g\) increases linearly from center to surface: \(g(r) \propto r\). Outside, it decreases: \(g(r) \propto 1/r^2\). Thus, \(g\) is maximum at the surface of the earth.

Question 27: easy

An iron sphere and an aluminium sphere, both of same radius are dropped from the top of a tower 100m high. At a height 40 m above the ground, both of them will have same.

1. momentum
2. kinetic energy
3. potential energy
4. acceleration
View Answer

In free fall under gravity (neglecting air resistance), all bodies experience the same acceleration due to gravity \(g\), regardless of their mass or density.

Question 28: difficult

Two equal masses m and m are hung from a balance whose scale pans differ in vertical height by β€˜h’. The error in weighing in terms of density of the earth \(\rho\) is :

1. \(\pi G \rho m h\)
2. \(\frac{1}{3} \pi G \rho m h\)
3. \(\frac{8}{3} \pi G \rho m h\)
4. \(\frac{4}{3} \pi G \rho m h\)
View Answer

The error in force is \(\Delta F = m(g_1 - g_2) \approx m \frac{2g}{R} h\). Since \(g = \frac{4}{3} \pi G \rho R\), we have \(\frac{2g}{R} = \frac{8}{3} \pi G \rho\). Therefore, \(\Delta F = \frac{8}{3} \pi G \rho m h\).

Question 29: 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 30: 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 \(g' = \frac{g (R/2)}{R} = g/2\).