Gravitation - NEET Physics Questions
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Gravitation

Question 51: 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 52: difficult

The additional kinetic energy to be provided to a satellite of mass m revolving around a planet of mass M, to transfer it from a circular orbit of radius R1 to another of radius R2(R2 > R1) is :

1.
2.
3.
4.
View Answer

The additional kinetic energy required to transfer a satellite from a circular orbit of radius \( R_1 \) to \( R_2 \) is the difference in kinetic energy between the two orbits.

Kinetic energy in a circular orbit is:

\[
K = \frac{GMm}{2R}
\]

The kinetic energy difference is:

\[
\Delta K = \frac{GMm}{2R_1} - \frac{GMm}{2R_2}
\]

Simplifying:

\[
\Delta K = \frac{GMm}{2} \left( \frac{1}{R_1} - \frac{1}{R_2} \right)
\]

So, the additional kinetic energy is:

\[
\Delta K = \frac{GMm}{2} \left( \frac{1}{R_1} - \frac{1}{R_2} \right)
\]

Question 53: moderate

The dependence of acceleration due to gravity ‘g’ on the distance ‘r’ from the centre of the earth, assumed to be a sphere of radius R of uniform density, is as shown in figure below:-

The correct figure is :

1. (a)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (d)
View Answer

\[ g= \frac{GMr}{R^{3}}  \] for internal point

\[ g= \frac{GM}{r^{2}}  \] for external point

 

Question 54: moderate

A particle of mass M is situated at the centre of a spherical shell of same mass and radius a. The gravitational potential at a point situated at a/2 distance from the centre, will be :

1. \[ \frac{-4GM}{a} \]
2. \[ \frac{-3GM}{a} \]
3. \[ \frac{-2GM}{a} \]
4. \[ \frac{-GM}{a} \]
View Answer

Total gravitational potential at a point \( r = \frac{a}{2} \):

1. Potential due to the mass at the center:
The gravitational potential at a distance \( r \) from a point mass \( M \) is given by:
\[
V_{\text{center}} = -\frac{GM}{r}
\]
At \( r = \frac{a}{2} \), this becomes:
\[
V_{\text{center}} = -\frac{GM}{\frac{a}{2}} = -\frac{2GM}{a}
\]

2. **Potential due to the spherical shell**:
Inside a spherical shell, the gravitational potential is constant and equal to the potential at the surface, which is:
\[
V_{\text{shell}} = -\frac{GM}{a}
\]

### Total potential at \( r = \frac{a}{2} \):

The total gravitational potential is the sum of the potentials due to the mass at the center and the shell:
\[
V_{\text{total}} = V_{\text{center}} + V_{\text{shell}} = -\frac{2GM}{a} - \frac{GM}{a} = -\frac{3GM}{a}
\]

So, the gravitational potential at a distance \( \frac{a}{2} \) from the center is:
\[
V = -\frac{3GM}{a}
\]

Question 55: 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 56: 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 57: 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 58: 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 59: moderate

The ratio of the radius of the earth to that of the moon is 10. The ratio of acceleration due to gravity on the earth and on the moon is 6. The ratio of the escape velocity from the earth’s surface to that from the moon is:

1. 10
2. 6
3. Nearly 8
4. 1.66
View Answer

Escape velocity is given by the formula \( v_e = \sqrt{2gR} \). The ratio of escape velocity of earth to moon is \( \frac{v_{earth}}{v_{moon}} = \sqrt{\frac{g_{earth}}{g_{moon}} \times \frac{R_{earth}}{R_{moon}}} = \sqrt{6 \times 10} = \sqrt{60} \approx 7.75 \approx 8 \).

Question 60: 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.