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

Question 21: 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 \(g' = g \left(1 - \frac{d}{R}\right)\). For \(g' = \frac{g}{4}\), we have \(1 - \frac{d}{R} = \frac{1}{4} β‡’ \frac{d}{R} = \frac{3}{4} β‡’ d = \frac{3R}{4}\).

Question 22: 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 \(g = \frac{GM}{R^2}\), for a small percentage change: \(\frac{\Delta g}{g} \times 100 = -2 \frac{\Delta R}{R} \times 100\). Since \(R\) decreases by \(1%\), \(g\) increases by \(2%\).

Question 23: easy

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

1. equator
2. latitude 45Β°
3. latitude 60Β°
4. poles
View Answer

The effective acceleration due to gravity at latitude \(\lambda\) is \(g' = g - \omega^2 R \cos^2 \lambda\). At the poles, \(\lambda = 90^\circ\), so \(g' = g\). Thus, rotation has no effect at the poles.

Question 24: 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 25: 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 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

The acceleration due to gravity is zero at the centre, increases linearly inside the earth up to the surface where it is maximum \(g = \frac{GM}{R^2}\), and then decreases as \(1/r^2\) outside the surface. Thus, \(g\) is greatest at the surface.

Question 27: easy

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

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

In the absence of air resistance, all falling bodies have the same acceleration due to gravity \(g\) independent of their mass. Since their masses are different due to different densities, other quantities will differ.

Question 28: easy

Assertion : If rotation of earth about its own axis is suddenly stopped then acceleration due to gravity will increase at all places on the earth (except poles).


Reason : At height \(h\) from the surface of earth, acceleration due to gravity is \(g_h = g \left(1 – \frac{2h}{R_e}\right)\) (If \(h \ll R_e\)) [\(R_e \rightarrow\) radius of earth]


 

1. Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is NOT the correct explanation of Assertion.
2. Assertion is true but Reason is false.
3. Assertion is false but Reason is true.
4. Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
View Answer

The effective gravity is \(g' = g - \omega^2 R \cos^2\lambda\). If rotation stops (\(\omega = 0\)), \(g'\) increases everywhere except the poles (where \(\lambda = 90^\circ\)). Thus Assertion is true. The Reason is also a true independent formula for gravity at a height, but not the explanation.

Question 29: easy

The weight of a body at a distance \(r\) (\(r > R\)) from the centre of earth is \(W\). The weight at a distance \(2r\) from the centre of earth is : (\(R \rightarrow\) Radius of earth)

1. \(\frac{W}{3}\)
2. \(\frac{W}{4}\)
3. \(\frac{W}{2}\)
4. \(\frac{W}{6}\)
View Answer

Outside the earth, weight \(W \propto \frac{1}{r^2}\). When distance is doubled to \(2r\), the weight becomes \(\frac{1}{2^2} = \frac{1}{4}\) of its initial value, i.e., \(\frac{W}{4}\).

Question 30: easy

A body weighs \(900\text{ N}\) on the surface of earth. How much will it weigh at a height double the radius of earth?

1. \(56.25\text{ N}\)
2. \(100\text{ N}\)
3. \(225\text{ N}\)
4. \(250\text{ N}\)
View Answer

Using the formula for acceleration due to gravity at height \(h\): \(g' = g\left(\frac{R}{R+h}\right)^2\). For \(h = 2R\), \(g' = \frac{g}{9}\) . Hence, weight at this height is \(W' = \frac{W}{9} = \frac{900\text{ N}}{9} = 100\text{ N}\).