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GRAVITATION
Exercise: 1 (Page: 32)
1. State the universal law of gravitation.
A. The law of gravitation states that the force of attraction between any two objects is proportional to
the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The
law applies to objects anywhere in the universe. Such a law is said to be universal.
2. Write the formula to find the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and an object
on the surface of the earth.
A. Let two objects A and B of masses M and m lie at a distance d from each other
Let the force of attraction between two objects be F.
According to the universal law of gravitation, the force between two objects is directly proportional to
the product of their masses. That is,
F ∝ M x m.............(1)
And the force between two objects is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them,
that is,
F ∝ 1/d2............(2)
Combining Equations (1) and (2), we get
F ∝ M x m/ /d2
F = G- Mm/ d2
Exercise: 2 (page 36)
1. What do you mean by free fall?
A. The Falling of a body or object from a height towards the earth under the gravitational force of earth
with no the forces acting on it are called free fall.
2. What do you mean by acceleration due to gravity?
A. The acceleration of a freely falling body under the influence of gravity that is expressed as the rate of
increase of velocity per unit of time and that amounts to a value of about 9.81 meters (32.2 feet) per
second per second.
Exercise: 3 (Page: 40)
1. What are the differences between the mass of an object and its weight?
A. Mass:
(i) The quantity of matter in an object is called mass
(ii)It is the measure of inertia of an object.
(iii) There is no change in mass at any place.
(iv) It only has magnitude.
(v) Its SI unit is kilogram (kg).
Weight:
(i) Weight is the force of gravity acting on the body.
(ii) It is the measure of gravity.
(iii) Weight is not a constant quantity.
(iv) It has magnitude as well as direct
(v) Its SI unit is kilogram (kg).
2. Why is the weight of an object on the moon 1/6th its weight on the earth?
A. (i) The mass of moon is 1/100 times and its radius 1/4 times that of earth.
(ii) As a result, the gravitational attraction on the moon is about one sixth when compared to earth.
(iii) Hence the weight of an object on the moon 1/6th its weight on the earth.
Exercise: 4 (page 46)
1. Why is it difficult to hold a school bag having a strap made of a thin and strong string?
A. We know that Pressure = Force/Area

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In case of a thin strap of bag, the area of the strap is less. Hence, the pressure exerted on the shoulders
is more.
In case of a thick strap of bag, the area of the strap is more. Hence, the pressure exerted on the
shoulders is less.
That is why in case of a thin strap, the pressure exerted on the shoulders is more and hence it is difficult
to hold such a bag.
2. What do you mean by buoyancy?
A. The upward force exerted by the liquids on the objects is known as up thrust or buoyant force.
3. Why does an object float or sink when placed on the surface of water?
A. (i) If the density of object is less than the density of water. This means that the up thrust of water on
the object is greater than the weight of the object. So it floats.
(ii) If the density of object is more than the density of water. This means that the up thrust of water on
the object is less than the weight of the object. So it sinks.
(iii) Therefore objects of density less than that of a liquid float on the liquid. The objects of density
greater than that of a liquid sink in the liquid.
Exercise: 5 (page 48)
1. You find your mass to be 42 kg on a weighing machine. Is your mass more or less than 42 kg?
A. (i) When we stand on a weighing machine, our weight acts downwards while up thrust due to air acts
upwards.
(ii) As a result, our apparent weight becomes less than the true weight.
(iii)The weighing machine measures this apparent weight.
(iv)Hence the mass indicated by it is less than the actual mass. The actual mass will be more than 42 kg.
2. You have a bag of cotton and an iron bar, each indicating a mass of 100 kg when measured on a
weighing machine. In reality one is heavier than other. Can you say which one is heavier and why?
A. (i) In reality, the cotton bag is heavier.
(ii) This is because the cotton bag has more volume than that of an iron bar so it displaces more air.
(iii) Hence the buoyant force acting on the cotton bag due to the air is more than that acting on the iron
bar.
(iv) Archimedes' principle
True weight = Apparent weight + Buoyant force.
(v) Apparent weight 100 kg for both, but buoyant forces are different.
EXERCISES
1. How does the force of gravitation between two objects change when the distance between them is
reduced to half?
A. Force of gravitation between the two objects is given by
F = G m1.m2/ r2
If all other factors remain same, then
F is inversely proportional to 1/r2
If r is reduced to r/2, then
F = G m1.m2/ r2/4
F = 4 G m1.m2/ r2. ( F = G m1.m2/ r2)
F = 4F
Thus, the force of gravitation increases by 4 times.
2. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does
not fall faster than a light object?
A. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. But a heavy object does not fall
faster than a light object.
This is because of the reason that

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Acceleration=Force /Mass (Or) Force= Acceleration × Mass

As force is directly proportional to mass, acceleration is constant for a body of any mass.
3. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between the earth and a 1 kg object on its surface?
(Mass of the earth is 6 x 10^24 kg and radius of the earth is 6.4 x 10^6 m.)
A. Gravitation force F = GMm/R2
= 6.67 × 10-11 × 6 × 1024 × 1/(6.4×106)2 = 9.77 (or) 9.8N
Where M = mass of the earth, m = mass of the object and R = radius of earth
4. The earth and the moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the earth attract
the moon with a force that is greater or smaller or the same as the force with which the moon attracts
the earth? Why?
A. (i) The earth attracts the moon with a force which is same as the force with which the moon attracts
the earth.
(ii) This is because as per newton's third law of motion, forces of action and reaction are always equal
and opposite.
(iii) The force exerted by earth on moon is equal and opposite to the force exerted by the moon on earth.
5. If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?
A. (i)The Earth and the moon experience equal gravitational forces from each other.
(ii) But, the mass of the Earth is much larger than the mass of the moon.
(iii) Hence, earth accelerates at a rate lesser than the acceleration rate of the moon towards the Earth.
(iv) For this reason, the Earth does not move towards the moon.
6. What happens to the force between two objects, if
(i) The mass of one object is doubled?
A. Let Mass of Object 1 be doubled
New Mass of Object 1 = 2M
Thus,
New Force = GX 2M X m/ r2
= 2GMm/ r2
= 2 x Old Force
If mass of one object is doubled, the force is also doubled.
(ii) The distance between the objects is doubled and tripled?
A. Distance between the objects is doubled:
New distance = 2r
New Force = GX M X m/(2r)2
= GMm/4 r2
= 1/4 x Old Force
Therefore, When distance is doubled, Force becomes 1/4 times of Old Force.
Distance between the objects is tripled:
New distance = 3r
New Force = GX M X m/(3r)2
= GMm/9 r2
= 1/9 x Old Force
Therefore, when distance is doubled, Force becomes 1/9 times of Old Force.
(iii) The masses of both objects are doubled?
A. New Mass of Object 1 = 2M
New Mass of Object 2 = 2m
Thus, New Force = GX 2M X2 m = 4GMm/ r2 = 4 x Old Force
Therefore, If mass of both objects is doubled, the force becomes four times
7. What is the importance of universal law of gravitation?

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A. The universal law of gravitation successfully explained several phenomena which were believed to be
unconnected:
(i) The force that binds us to the earth;
(ii) The motion of the moon around the earth;
(iii) The motion of planets around the Sun and
(iv) The tides due to the moon and the Sun.
8. What is the acceleration of free fall?
A. Acceleration due to gravity. It is denoted by letter 'g'. Its value on earth is approximately 9.8m/s2
9. What do we call the gravitational force between the earth and an object?
A. Weight of an object.
10. Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the instruction of one of his friends. He hands over
the same when he meets him at the equator. Will the friend agree with the weight of gold bought? If
not, why? [Hint: The value of g is greater at the poles than at the equator.]
A. Let m be the mass of the gold bought.
Also, let the acceleration due to gravity at poles and at equator be gp and ge respectively.
Acceleration due to gravity at poles is slightly greater than that at equator.
∴ Weight of gold at poles Wp =mgp
Weight of gold at equator We =mge
But as ge < gp ⟹Wp>We
Hence the weight of gold is slightly less at equator.
So the friend will not agree with Amit about the weight of gold bought.
11. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball?
A. A sheet of paper has much more area than the same paper crumbled and due to this the sheet
experiences more air resistance and thus falls at a speed slower than when it is crumbled.
12. Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is only as strong as gravitational force on the earth.
What is the weight in Newton’s of a 10 kg object on the moon and on the earth?
A. Weight on the earth = mg = 10 x 9.8 = 98 N
Weight on the moon = 1/6 × mg
= 1/6 x 10 x 9.8 = 16.33 N
13. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 49 m/s; calculate
(i) The maximum height to which it rises.
(ii) The total time it takes to return to the surface of the earth.
A. According to question, u = 49 m/s at the maximum height
v = 0, g = 9.8 m/s2
(i) The maximum height to which it rises.
From the equation
v2 – u2 = 2gh,
2gh = v2- u2
2 x 9.8 x h = 0 - (49)2
19.6 × h = 49 x 49
h = (49 x 49) / 19.6 h = 122.5 m
(ii) The total time it takes to return to the surface of the earth.
(v = u + gt) While throwing upward. ; v = u - gt
t = (u-v)/(-g) = (0 - 49) / - 9.8
t = -49/-9.8 ; t=5
∵ The ball takes the same time to reach the surface from the maximum height
∴ Total time = (5 + 5)s = 10s

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14. A stone is released from the top of a tower of height 19.6 m. Calculate its final velocity just before
touching the ground.
A. According to calculation h = 19.6m
Initial velocity u = 0 m/s
Final velocity v = ?
Gravitational acceleration g = 9.8m/s2
From Equation v2 – u2 = 2gh,
v2 - 02 = 2 × 9.8 × 19.6
v2= 19.6 ×19.6
v = √ 19.6 ×19.6 = 19.6m/s
Hence the final velocity is v = 19.6m/s
15. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 40 m/s. Taking g = 10 m/s², find the
maximum height reached by the stone. What is the net displacement and the total distance covered
by the stone?
A. From the question,
u = 40 m/s g = 10 m/s2 h = ?, v = 0, s = ?
Here displacement(s) is equal to height (h) from the formula, v2 = u2 – 2gh
0 = (40)2 – 2 × 10 × h
20h = 1600
h = 1600/20
h = 80m
Net displacement = 0 (Because the stone returns back to the surface after reaching the maximum height.
Total distance covered by the stone
= 80 m + 80 m = 160 m
16. Calculate the force of gravitation between the earth and the Sun, given that the mass of the earth
= 6 x 1024 kg and of the Sun = 2 x 1030 kg. The average distance between the two is 1.5 x 10¹¹ m.
A. According to the universal law of gravitation, the force of attraction between the Earth and the Sun is
given by,
F = G X M (sun) X M (Earth) / R²
Substituted the value in above equation
F = 6.673 x 10-11 × 2 ×1030 × 6 ×1024/ (1.5×10¹¹) ²
F = (6.673 ×2 ×6) ×10-11 + 30 + 24/1.52× 1022
F = 80.076 × 1043/ 2.25 × 1022
Divide numerator and denominator
:. F = 35.5893 × 1021
:. F = 3.5589 × 1022 N
Hence, the force of gravitation between the
Earth and the Sun is 3.5589 x 1022 N.
17. A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower 100 m high and at the same time another stone is
projected vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 25 m/s. Calculate when and where the
two stones will meet.
A. Let the stones meet at point A after time t.
For upper stone: u′=0 (lets s = x)
x = 0 +1/2 g t2
x =1/2 ×10 × t2
x = 5 t2............(1)
For lower stone : u = 25 m/s
(For upward through g = -g)

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100 − x = ut−1/2g t2
100 − x = (25)t −1/2 ×10 × t2
100 − x = 25t − 5t2............(2)
Adding (1) and (2), we get
x + 100 - x = 5t2+ 25t - 5 t2
100 = 25t
25t=100
t = 4 sec
From (1),
x = 5 × 42
x = 80 m
Hence the stone meet at a height of (100 - 80) 20 m above the ground after 4 seconds.
18. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower after 6 s. Find
(a) The velocity with which it was thrown up,
(b) The maximum height it reaches, and
(c) Its position after 4 s.
A. Time taken to reach the maximum height
t = 6/2, t = 3s, v = 0
(a) The velocity with which it was thrown up, u =?
From the equation, v = u – gt
0 = u - 9.8 x 3
-u = -29.4
u = 29.4 m/s
(b) The velocity with which it was thrown up,
From the equation ; v2 = u2 – 2gh
0 = (29.4)2 – 2 x 9.8 x h
19.6h = 29.4 x 29.4
h = (29.4 x 29.4) / 19.6
h = 44.1 m
Thus the maximum height reached by the ball, 44.1 m
(c) Its position after 4 s.
t = 4 sec (given) but the ball reaches the maximum height after 3s.
Therefore the distance covered after falling from the maximum height after 1sec so t = 1sec.
h = ut + 1/2 gt2
h = ut + 0.5 g t2
h = ( 0 x 1) + (0.5 x 9.8 x 1 x 1)
h = 0 + 4.9
h = 4.9 ~ 5m
∴ Height above the ground, H = 44.1 - 4.9
H = 39.2 ~ 39m
Hence after 4 s, the ball is at a height of 39 m above the ground.
19. In what direction does the buoyant force on an object immersed in a liquid act?
A. The buoyant force acts in the upward direction on the object which is immersed in a liquid.
20. Why does a block of plastic released under water come up to the surface of water?
A. (i) Density of plastic piece is less than the density of water.
(ii) Also, when the block is thrown under water the buoyant force is greater than it's weight.
(iii) Therefore, when a plastic block is released under water, it comes up to the surface of water.

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21. The volume of 50 g of a substance is 20 cm³. If the density of water is 1 g cm³, will the substance
float or sink?
A. Mass of a substance = 50g
Volume of substance = 20 cm3
∴ Density of substance, d = Mass /Volume = 50 /20 = 2.5 g/ cm3
i.e., the density of the substance is greater than the density of water. So it will sink in water.
22. The volume of a 500 g sealed packet is 350 cm³. Will the packet float or sink in water if the density
of water is 1 g cm3? What will be the mass of the water displaced by this packet?
A. Density of the packet = Mass of the packet/volume of the packet.
Density of the 500g sealed packet
= 500/350=1,428 g / cm3
The density of the substance is more than the density of water (1g/m3). Hence it will sink in water.
The mass of water displaced by the packet is equal to the volume of packet i.e., 350g.

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