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Chapter 11

The document outlines the universal law of gravitation, stating that every object attracts every other object with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. It explains the significance of this law in various phenomena, such as the motion of celestial bodies and free fall, and provides formulas for calculating gravitational force and weight on different celestial bodies. Additionally, it distinguishes between mass and weight, noting that mass remains constant while weight varies depending on location.

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ABHISHEK CHAKRABORTY
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20 views3 pages

Chapter 11

The document outlines the universal law of gravitation, stating that every object attracts every other object with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. It explains the significance of this law in various phenomena, such as the motion of celestial bodies and free fall, and provides formulas for calculating gravitational force and weight on different celestial bodies. Additionally, it distinguishes between mass and weight, noting that mass remains constant while weight varies depending on location.

Uploaded by

ABHISHEK CHAKRABORTY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Facts that Matter

• Universal law of gravitation: Every object in the universe attracts


every other object with a force which is proportional to the product of
their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between them.
The force is along the line joining the centres of two objects.

Let two objects A and B of masses M and m lie at a distance of d from


each other as shown in the figure.
Let F be the force of attraction between two objects. According to the
universal law of gravitation

• G is called a universal constant because its value does not depend on


the nature of intervening medium or temperature or any other physical
variable.
S.I. unit of G = Nm 2 /kg 2
Value of G = 6.673 � 10 –11 Nm 2 /kg 2
(Found by Henry Cavendish)
• Importance of universal law of gravitation
Universal law of gravitation successfully explained several
phenomena like:
(i) the force that binds us to the earth.
(ii) the motion of moon around the earth.
(iii) the motion of planets around the sun.
(iv) the tides due to the moon and the sun.
• Free fall
When an object falls down towards the earth under the gravitational
force alone, we say the object is in free fall.
This acceleration is called acceleration due to gravity, denoted by ‘g’.
Unit is m/s 2 .
As F = ma (a = g) ...(i)
F = mg ...(ii)
M = Mass of the earth
d = Distance between the object and the earth
G = Gravitational constant
If the object is place on the earth then d =R
(R = radius of the earth)

Earth is not a sphere it is flattened at poles.

Calculation of value of g

G = 6.67 × 10 –11 Nm 2 /kg 2


M = 6 × 10 24 kg (Mass of the earth)
R = 6.4 × 10 6 m
On substituting the given values

Motion of objects under the influence of gravity ‘g’ does not depend
on the mass of the body. All objects small, big, heavy, light, hollow or
solid fall at same rate.
• The three equation of motion viz.
(iii) v 2 – u 2 = 2as are true for motion of objects under gravity.
For free fall, value of acceleration a = g = 9.5 ms –2 .
• If an object is just let fall from a height then in that as u = 0 and a =
g = 9.8 m/s 2 .
• If an object is projected vertically upward with an initial velocity u,
then a = –g = –9.8 ms –2 and the object will go to a maximum height h
where its final velocity becomes zero (i.e., v = 0).
• Mass: Mass of an object is the measure of its inertia. It is the matter
present in it. It remains the same everywhere in the universe.
• Weight: The force of attraction of the earth on the object is known as
the weight of the object. Its S.I. unit is Newton.
W=m×g
The weight of an object can change from one place to the other, from
one planet to the other.
Weight of an object on moon is given by the formula

W m = weight of an object on moon


M m = mass of the moon = 7.36 × 10 22
R m = radius of the moon = 1.74 × 10 6
G = 6.67 × 10 –11 Nm 2 /lg 2

∴ Weight of an object on moon th the weight of an object on the


earth.

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