Gravitation - NEET Physics Questions
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Gravitation

Question 11: easy

The mass of the moon is about 1.2% of the mass of the earth. compared to the gravitational force the earth exerts on the moon, the gravitational force the moon exerts on earth :

1. Is the same
2. is smaller
3. Is greater
4. Varier with its phase
View Answer

From Newton's Third law of motion force applied by object A on B and Force applied by B on A will have equal magnitude.

Question 12: easy

The average density of the earth :

1. does not depend on g
2. is a complex function of g
3. is directly proportional to g
4. is inversely proportional to g
View Answer

The average density of the Earth (\( \rho \)) is directly proportional to the acceleration due to gravity (\( g \)) at the surface due to the relationship expressed by the formula:

\[
g = \frac{G M}{R^2},
\]

where:
- \( G \) is the gravitational constant,
- \( M \) is the mass of the Earth,
- \( R \) is the radius of the Earth.

The mass \( M \) can be expressed in terms of density and volume:

\[
M = \rho V = \rho \left( \frac{4}{3} \pi R^3 \right).
\]

Substituting this into the equation for \( g \):

\[
g = \frac{G \left( \rho \cdot \frac{4}{3} \pi R^3 \right)}{R^2} = \frac{4\pi G \rho R}{3}.
\]

This shows that \( g \) is directly proportional to \( \rho \) (as \( R \) and \( G \) are constants), meaning that as the average density of the Earth increases, the value of \( g \) also increases.

Question 13: easy

A body released from a height h takes time t to reach earth’s surface. The time taken by the same body released from the same height to reach the moon’s surface is :

1. t
2. 6t
3. t/6
4. √6t
View Answer

The time taken for an object to fall freely from a height \( h \) is given by the equation:

\[
h = \frac{1}{2} g t^2,
\]

where \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity.

1. For Earth:
\[
h = \frac{1}{2} g_E t^2 ; t = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{g_E}}.
\]

2. For the Moon, where \( g_M \approx \frac{1}{6} g_E \):
\[
h = \frac{1}{2} g_M t_m^2 ; t_m = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{g_M}} = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{\frac{1}{6} g_E}} = \sqrt{12 \cdot \frac{2h}{g_E}}.
\]

This can be simplified using the time \( t \) from Earth:

\[
t_m = \sqrt{6} \cdot t = \sqrt{6} \cdot t.
\]

Thus, the time taken by the same body to reach the Moon's surface is approximately \( \sqrt{6} t \).

Question 14: easy

A force F is given by F = at + bt², where t is time. The dimensions of a and b are

1. [M L T–³] and [M L T–4]
2. [M L T–4] and [M L T–³]
3. [M L T–¹] and [M L T–²]
4. [M L T–²] and [M L T0]
View Answer

The force \( F = at + bt^2 \) has dimensions of force \([M L T^{-2}]\).

For \( at \), the dimensions of \( a \) must be:

\[
[M L T^{-2}] = [a][T]
\]

Thus, the dimensions of \( a \) are:

\[
a = [M L T^{-3}]
\]

For \( bt^2 \), the dimensions of \( b \) must be:

\[
[M L T^{-2}] = [b][T^2]
\]

Thus, the dimensions of \( b \) are:

\[
b = [M L T^{-4}]
\]

So, the dimensions are:
- \( a = [M L T^{-3}] \)
- \( b = [M L T^{-4}] \)

Question 15: easy

Two identical spheres each of mass M and radius R are separated by a centre to centre distance 10R. The gravitational force on mass m placed at the midpoint of the line joining the centres of the spheres is :

1. zero
2. 2GMm/25R²
3. GMm/25R²
4. GMm/100R²
View Answer

At the midpoint, the gravitational forces exerted by the two identical spheres on the mass \( m \) have the same magnitude but act in opposite directions. Since these forces cancel each other out completely, the net gravitational force on the mass \( m \) is:

\[
F = 0
\]

Question 16: easy

Dimensions of gravitational constant are :

1. [ML²T²]
2. [M¹L³T–²]
3. [M°L³T²]
4. [M–¹L³T–²]
View Answer

To find the dimensions of the gravitational constant \( G \), use Newton's law of gravitation:

\[
F = \frac{G M_1 M_2}{r^2}
\]

Where:
- \( F \) is force (with dimensions \( [M L T^{-2}] \)),
- \( M_1 \) and \( M_2 \) are masses (with dimensions \( [M] \)),
- \( r \) is distance (with dimensions \( [L] \)).

Rearranging for \( G \):

\[
G = \frac{F r^2}{M_1 M_2}
\]

Substitute the dimensions:

\[
G = \frac{[M L T^{-2}] [L^2]}{[M][M]}
\]

Simplify:

\[
G = [M^{-1} L^3 T^{-2}]
\]

Thus, the dimensions of \( G \) are \( [M^{-1} L^3 T^{-2}] \).

Question 17: easy

If \(R\) is the radius of the earth and \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth surface. Then the mean density of the earth will be

1. \(\frac{3g}{4\pi RG}\)
2. \(\frac{4\pi G}{3gR}\)
3. \(\frac{\pi RG}{12g}\)
4. \(\frac{3\pi R}{4gG}\)
View Answer

Acceleration due to gravity is \(g = \frac{GM}{R^2}\). Since mass \(M = \rho \times \frac{4}{3}\pi R^3\), we get \(g = \frac{G \left(\frac{4}{3}\pi R^3 \rho\right)}{R^2} = \frac{4}{3}\pi \rho GR\). Rearranging gives \(\rho = \frac{3g}{4\pi RG}\).

Question 18: easy

The escape velocity of a body on the earth surface is 11.2 km/s. If the same body is projected upward with velocity 22.4 km/s, the velocity of this body at infinite distance from the centre of the earth will be

1. 11.2 km/s
2. \(11.2\sqrt{3}\text{ km/s}\)
3. \(11.2\sqrt{2}\text{ km/s}\)
4. Zero
View Answer

Using conservation of energy: \(v_\infty = \sqrt{v^2 - v_e^2}\). Given \(v = 22.4\text{ km/s} = 2v_e\), we find \(v_\infty = \sqrt{(2v_e)^2 - v_e^2} = v_e\sqrt{3} = 11.2\sqrt{3}\text{ km/s}\).

Question 19: easy

Consider earth to be a homogeneous sphere. Scientist A goes deep down in a mine and scientist B goes high up in a balloon. The value of g measured by:

1. A goes on decreasing and that by B goes on increasing
2. B goes on decreasing and that by A goes on increasing
3. Each decreases at the same rate
4. Each decrease at different rates
View Answer

Acceleration due to gravity decreases with depth as \( g_d = g(1 - \frac{d}{R}) \) and with height as \( g_h = g(1 - \frac{2h}{R}) \). Since the formulas and rates of decrease are different, they decrease at different rates.

Question 20: easy

An artificial satellite moving in a circular orbit around the earth has a total (kinetic + potential) energy \( E_0 \). Its potential energy is:

1. \( -E_0 \)
2. \( 1.5E_0 \)
3. \( 2E_0 \)
4. \( -2E_0 \)
View Answer

For a satellite in circular orbit, Potential Energy is \( U = -\frac{GMm}{r} \) and Total Energy is \( E_0 = -\frac{GMm}{2r} \). Thus, Potential Energy is twice the Total Energy, \( U = 2E_0 \).