Gravitation - NEET Physics Questions
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Gravitation

Question 61: easy

Satellites A and B are orbiting around the earth in orbits of ratio R and 4R respectively. The ratio of their areal velocities is :

1. 1 : 2
2. 1 : 4
3. 1 : 8
4. 1 : 16
View Answer

Areal velocity is given by \(\frac{dA}{dt} = \frac{L}{2m} = \frac{vr}{2} = \frac{\sqrt{GMr}}{2}\). Since areal velocity is proportional to \(\sqrt{r}\), the ratio is \(\sqrt{\frac{R}{4R}} = \frac{1}{2}\) or 1 : 2.

Question 62: easy

The gravitational potential energy of a body of mass \(m\) at the earth’s surface is \(-mgR_e\). Its gravitational potential energy at a height \(R_e\) from the earth’s surface will be (Here \(R_e\) is the radius of the earth)

1. \(-2mgR_e\)
2. \(2mgR_e\)
3. \(\frac{mgR_e}{2}\)
4. \(\frac{-mgR_e}{2}\)
View Answer

At the surface, \(U_s = -\frac{GMm}{R_e} = -mgR_e\). At a height \(h = R_e\), the distance from the center is \(r = 2R_e\). Thus, \(U_h = -\frac{GMm}{2R_e} = \frac{-mgR_e}{2}\).

Question 63: easy

Two identical satellites are at height \(R\) and \(7R\) from earth surface, the ratio of their kinetic energies will be :

1. \(2\)
2. \(1\)
3. \(4\)
4. Infinite
View Answer

Kinetic energy of a satellite is \(K = \frac{GMm}{2r}\). Here \(r_1 = R + R = 2R\) and \(r_2 = R + 7R = 8R\). The ratio \(frac{K_1}{K_2} = \frac{r_2}{r_1} = \frac{8R}{2R} = 4\).

Question 64: 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 65: easy

If mass of a planet is \(M\) and radius is \(x\), then the work to be done to slowly take a mass \(m\) from surface of planet to a height \(4x\) is :

1. \(\frac{4GMm}{5x}\)
2. \(\frac{2GMm}{5x}\)
3. \(\frac{5GMm}{x}\)
4. \(\frac{4GMm}{3x}\)
View Answer

Initial position \(r_i = x\), final position \(r_f = x + 4x = 5x\). Work done \(W = U_f - U_i = -\frac{GMm}{5x} - \left(-\frac{GMm}{x}\right) = \frac{4GMm}{5x}\).

Question 66: easy

A planet of mass \(m\) is moving in an elliptical orbit about the sun with time period \(T\). If \(A\) be the area of orbit, then its angular momentum would be :

1. \(\frac{2mA}{T}\)
2. \(mAT\)
3. \(\frac{mA}{2T}\)
4. \(2mAT\)
View Answer

According to Kepler's second law, the areal velocity of the planet is constant and is given by \(\frac{dA}{dt} = \frac{L}{2m}\). Integrating over one time period \(T\) gives \(A = \frac{L}{2m} T ⇒ L = \frac{2mA}{T}\).

Question 67: easy

For energy of satellite, match the columns (symbols have their respective meaning):

**Column-I**
(i) Kinetic energy
(ii) Potential energy
(iii) Total energy

**Column-II**
(p) \(\frac{L^2}{2mr^2}\)
(q) \(-\frac{L^2}{mr^2}\)
(r) \(-\frac{L^2}{2mr^2}\)

1. (1) i-q ; ii-p ; iii-r
2. (2) i-p ; ii-r ; iii-q
3. (3) i-p ; ii-q ; iii-r
4. (4) i-r ; ii-q ; iii-p
View Answer

Kinetic energy \(K = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{L^2}{2mr^2}\) (since \(L = mvr\)). Potential energy \(U = -\frac{GMm}{r} = -\frac{L^2}{mr^2}\). Total energy \(E = K + U = -\frac{L^2}{2mr^2}\). Thus (i)-p, (ii)-q, (iii)-r.

Question 68: 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 69: easy

The gravitational field in a region is given by \(vec{I} = 10(\hat{i} + \hat{j})\text{ N/kg}\). The work done by gravitational field to shift a particle of mass \(2\text{ kg}\) from position \((0,0)\) to \((5, 4)\) will be :

1. \(100\text{ J}\)
2. \(180\text{ J}\)
3. \(80\text{ J}\)
4. \(20\text{ J}\)
View Answer

The force is \(\vec{F} = mvec{I} = 2 \times 10(\hat{i} + \hat{j}) = 20\hat{i} + 20\hat{j}\text{ N}\). Displacement is \(\vec{d} = 5\hat{i} + 4\hat{j}\text{ m}\). Work done \(W = \vec{F} \cdot \vec{d} = (20)(5) + (20)(4) = 180\text{ J}\).

Question 70: 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 \(W' = \frac{W}{9} = \frac{900\text{ N}}{9} = 100\text{ N}\).