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Gravitation
PART OF INTEGRATED COURSE IN GENERAL SCIENCE FOR RRB JE CBT 2 BY MRRQ
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Introduction

Universal Law of Gravitation & its importance

Free Fall

Overview Calculation of value of g

Motion of object under g

Mass and Weight

Weight of an object at moon

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Introduction

 Motion of objects are a result of force applied on

them.
 Force can change the speed or direction or both of
an object.
 When we throw an object upwards it returns to earth.
 Similarly, planets move around the sun due to some
force
 This happens because of a force called gravitation
 Consider a Stone describing a circular motion with a
velocity of constant magnitude.
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Universal Law of
Gravitation
 Every object in the universe attracts
every other object with a force:
 proportional to the product of their
masses
i.e. F Mxm • Here G is constant of
 and inversely proportional to the proportionality called
square of distance between them. Universal Gravitation
i.e. F 1/d2 constant.
 F Mm/d2
• Its SI unit is N-m2/kg2

• G= 6.673 x 10-11 N-m2/kg2

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Importance of Universal law of
gravitation

 Force that binds us to earth

 Motion of moon around the earth
 Motion of planets around the sun
 Tides due to moon and Sun
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Free Fall

 Earth attracts objects towards it due to gravitational force.

 Object falling under the above force alone towards the earth is called free
fall.
 Under free fall there is no change in direction but mag. Of velocity
changes.
 Thus acceleration is involved which is due to earth’s gravitational force.
 This is called acceleration due to gravity (g)
 SI unit is m/s2
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Free fall

 We know that, F
=ma………(i)
g=GM/R2
 Here a =g, F = mg
 Also, F = The value of g increases at poles and
GMm/d2……………(ii) reduces at equator.
 From (i) and (ii) For the objects far away from earth we
 mg = GMm/d2 use the formula
 g=GM/ d2 g=GM/ d2 to find the value of g
 d= R ,Radius of earth
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Calculation of value of g

 Since, g=GM/R2
 =
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Equation of motion under influence of
gravity

 We know that
 v = u + at
 S= ut + ½ at2
 v2 = u2 + 2as
 In case of motion under influence of gravity we put g in
place of a for acceleration.
 Whenever direction of velocity is in the direction of motion g
will be +ve
 And –ve when it will oppose motion.
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Concept of Mass & Weight

 Mass of an object is inertia

 Greater the mass greater the inertia
 Mass is a constant quantity which does not change with
respect to location of an object.
 Whereas weight of an object is the force by which it is
attracted towards the earth.
 F= ma or F=mg, in context of gravity
 W=mg
 Weight of an object is directly proportional to its mass.
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Weight of an object on the moon

 Weight of an object at moon is the force by which moon

attracts any object.
 The mass of moon is less than earth hence this force is less
than earth’s force.
 Let mass of an object = m
 Weight of the object on moon = Wm
 Let, mass of moon = Mm
 Radius of moon = Rm
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Weight of an object on the moon

 By using universal law of gravitation,

 Wm = (GMm x m)/R2m
 Let Weight of same object on earth be We. Mass of earth is
M and radius is R.
 We = (GMxm)/R2
Solving Wm/We by putting the appropriate values
We get , Wm/We = 1/6