iNTRODUCTION

The motion of celestial bodies such as the moon, the earth, the planets, etc. has been a subject of great
interest for long time. Famous Indian astronomer and mathematician, Aryabhat, studied these motions in
great detail, most likely in the 5th century A.D., and wrote his conclusions in his book Aryabhathiya. He
established that the earth revolves about the sun, and that the moon moves in a circular orbit about the
earth.
About a thousand years after aryabhat, the brilliant combination of Tycho Brahe and Johnaase Kepler studied
the planetary motion in great detail.
KEPLER'S LAWS

The three laws of Kepler can be stated as follows:

1. Laws of orbital: All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun situated at one of the foci of the ellipse.

2. Laws of areas: The line that joins any planet to the sun sweeps equal areas in equal intervals of time.
This law comes from the observation that planet appears to move slower when they are farther from the sun
than when they are nearer.
This law can be understood as a consequence of conservation of angular momentum which is valid for any
central force. A central force is such that the force on the planet is along the vector joining the sun and the
planet. Let the sun be at the origin and let the position and momentum of the planet be denoted by r and p
respectively. Then the area swept out by the planet of mass m in time interval t is A given by
A = 1/2 (r x vdt)
Hence
A/t = 1/2 (r x p)/m = L /(2m)
3. Laws of periods: The square of the time period of revolution of a planet is proportional to the cube of the
semi-major axis of the ellipse traced out by the planet.
The period T and radius R of the circular orbit of a planet about the sun are related by
2

T =(4 /GMs)R

where Msis the mass of the sun. Most planets have nearly circular orbits about the Sun. For elliptical orbits,
the above equation is valid if R is replaced ty the semi-major axis, a.
UNIVERSAL LAW OF GRAVITATION.
Newton's law of universal gravitation states that the gravitational force of attraction between any two
particles of masses m1 and m2 seperated by a distance r has the magnitude
2

F = G (m1 x m2)/r

where G is the universal gravitation constant, which has the value 6.672x10

-11

-2

Nm kg .

If we have to find the resultant gravitational force acting on the particle m due to a number of masses M 1,
M2,.....Mn etc. we use the principal of superposition. Let F1, F2,.....Fn be the individual forces due to M1,
M2,.....Mn each given ty law of gravitation. From the particle of superposition each force acts independently
and uninfluenced by the other bodies. The resultant forces F r is them found by vector addition
Fr=F1+F2+....+Fn

For the gravitation force between an extended object (like the earth) and a point mass is not directly
applicable. This is done using calculus. For two special cases, a simple law results when you do that:
1. The force of attraction between a hollow spherical shell of uniform density and a point mass situated
outside is just as if the entire mass of the shell is concentrated at the center of the shell.

2. The force of attraction due to a hollow spherical shell of uniform density, on a point mass situated inside,
it is zero.
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY OF THE EARTH
The earth can be imagined to be a sphere made of large number of concentric sphere made of large number
of concentric spherical shells with the smallest one at the centre and the largest one at its surface. To point
outside the earth, all the shells exert a gravitational force at that point.
3

We assume that the entire earth is of uniform density and hence its mass is M E = 4.RE .d/3
where ME is mass of earth, RE is its radius and d is the density.
By Law of gravitation,
2

F=(G.ME.m)/RE

and by newtons 2nd law we have

F=mg
Thus

g=F/m=G.ME/RE

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY ABOVE THE SURFACE OF EARTH

If radius of the earth is be RE and height of point from the surface be h . Then distance of point from the
center of the earth is ( RE + h)
Therefore,
F(h)= (G.ME.m)/(RE + h)

The acceleration experienced by the point mass is F(h)/m=g(h) and we get

2

-2

g(h)=F(h)/m=(G.ME)/(RE + h) =(G.ME)/(RE .(1 + h/RE) )=g(1 + h/RE)

As h is very small with respect to RE, we can expand using binomial.
g(h)=g(1-2h/RE)

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY BELOW THE SURFACE OF EARTH

Consider a point mass m at a depth d below the surface of the earth, so that its distance from the center of
the earth is (RE - d). The force on m due to the outer shell of thickness d is zero. If Ms is the mass of
smaller sphere, then,
3

Ms/ME=(RE-d)^3/RE

Now, F(d)= G.Ms.m/(RE-d)

Substituting Ms,
3

F(d)=G.ME.m(RE-d)/RE

Hence, acceleration due to gravity at depth d,

g(d)=F(d)/m=g(1-d/RE)
The remarkable thing about acceleration due to earth's gravity is that it is maximum on its surface
decreasing whether you in up or down.
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY OF THE EARTH
The earth can be imagined to be a sphere made of large number of concentric sphere made of large number
of concentric spherical shells with the smallest one at the centre and the largest one at its surface. To point
outside the earth, all the shells exert a gravitational force at that point.
3

We assume that the entire earth is of uniform density and hence its mass is M E = 4.RE .d/3
where ME is mass of earth, RE is its radius and d is the density.
By Law of gravitation,
2

F=(G.ME.m)/RE

and by newtons 2nd law we have

F=mg
Thus
2

g=F/m=G.ME/RE

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY ABOVE THE SURFACE OF EARTH

If radius of the earth is be RE and height of point from the surface be h . Then distance of point from the
center of the earth is ( RE + h)
Therefore,
F(h)= (G.ME.m)/(RE + h)

The acceleration experienced by the point mass is F(h)/m=g(h) and we get

2

-2

g(h)=F(h)/m=(G.ME)/(RE + h) =(G.ME)/(RE .(1 + h/RE) )=g(1 + h/RE)

As h is very small with respect to RE, we can expand using binomial.
g(h)=g(1-2h/RE)

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY BELOW THE SURFACE OF EARTH

Consider a point mass m at a depth d below the surface of the earth, so that its distance from the center of
the earth is (RE - d). The force on m due to the outer shell of thickness d is zero. If Ms is the mass of
smaller sphere, then,
3

Ms/ME=(RE-d)^3/RE

Now, F(d)= G.Ms.m/(RE-d)

Substituting Ms,
3

F(d)=G.ME.m(RE-d)/RE

Hence, acceleration due to gravity at depth d,

g(d)=F(d)/m=g(1-d/RE)
The remarkable thing about acceleration due to earth's gravity is that it is maximum on its surface
decreasing whether you in up or down.
ESCAPE VELOCITY
2

Let the initial velocity of the particle be u. The kinetic energy of the particle is K=1/2 mu and the
gravitational potential energy of the earth-particle system is U = -GMm/R, where M is the mass of the earth,
m is the mass of the particle and R is the radius of the earth. When it reaches a height h above the earth's
2

surface, its speed becomes v. The kinetic energy there is 1/2 mv and the gravitational potential energy is
-GMm/(R+h).
By conservation of energy
2

1/2mu -GMm/(R) = 1/2 mv -GMm/(R+h)

2

or 1/2 mv = 1/2 mu -GMm/(R) + GMm/(R+h)

2

If 1/2 mu -GMm/(R) >= 0, the right hand side is greater than zero for all values of h. Thus, 1/2 mv never
become zero. The particle's velocity never reaches zero. So, the particle will never return to the earth if,
2

1/2 mu -GMm/(R) >= 0

u >= (2GM/R)

1/2

This critical initial velocity is called the escape velocity. Putting the values of G, M and R, the escape velocity
from the earth comes out to be 11.6 km/s.
ORBITAL VELOCITY OF SATELLITE
Let the radius of the orbit be a, and the speed of the satellite in the orbit be v. By Newton's second law, the
force on the satellite equal its mass times the acceleration. Thus,
2

GMm/a =m(v /a)

or v = (GM/a)

1/2

The speed of the satellite is inversely proportional to the square root of the radius of its orbit.
GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE

The earth rotates about its own axis once in 24 hours. Suppose a satellite is established in an orbit in that
time period of the satellite is 24 hours and it moves in the same sense as the earth. The satellite will always
be overhead a particular place on the equator. As seen from the earth, this satellite will appear to be
stationary. Such a satellite is called a geostationary satellite.

1. If suddenly the gravitational force of attraction between earth and a satellite revolving around
it becomes zero, then the satellite will- [AIEEE-2002]
A) Continue to move in its orbit with same velocity.
B) move tangentially to the original orbit with same velocity
C) become stationary in its orbit
D) move towards the earth.
2. The kinetic energy needed to project a body of mass m from the earth's surface (radius R) to
infinity is- [AIEEE-2002]
A) mgR/2
B) 2mgR
C) mgR
D) mgR/4
3. Energy required to move a body of mass m from an orbit of radius 2R to 3R is - [AIEEE-2002]
A) GMm/12R

B) GMm/3R
C) GMm/8R
D) GMm/6R

4. The time period of a satellite of earth is 5 hours. If the separation between the centre of the
earth and the satellite is increased to 4 times the previous value, the new time period will
become- [AIEEE-2003]
A) 10 h
B) 80 h
C) 40 h
D) 20 h
5. Two spherical bodies of mass M and 5M and radii R and 2R respectively are released in free
space with initial separation between their centres equal to 12 R. If they attract each other due
to gravitational force only, then the distance covered by smaller body just before collision is[AIEEE-2003]
A) 2.5 R
B) 4.5 R
C) 7.5 R
D) 1.5 R
6. A satellite of mass m revolves around the earth of radius R at a height x from its surface. If g
is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth, the orbital speed of the satellite is[AIEEE-2004]
A) gx
B) gR/(R-x)
2

C) gR /(R+x)
2

D) (gR /(R+x))

1/2

7. The time period of an earth satellite in circular orbit is independent of-[AIEEE-2004]

A) the mass of the satellite
B) radius of its orbit
C) both the mass and radius of the orbit
D) neither the mass of the satellite nor the radius of its orbit.

8. If g is the acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface, the gain in the potential energy of
an object of mass m raised from the surface of the earth to a height equal to the R of the earth,
is-[AIEEE-2004]
A) 2mgR
B) (1/2)mgR
C) (1/4)mgR
D) mgR
9. Suppose the gravitational force varies inversely as the nthpower of the distance. Then time
period of a planet in circular orbit of radius R around the sun will be proportional to-[AIEEE2004]
A) R

((n+1)/2)

B) R

((n-1)/2)

C) R

D) R

((n-2)/2)

10. Average density of the earth-[AIEEE-2005]

A) does not depends on g
B) is complex function of g
C) is directly proportional to g
D) is inversely proportional to g
11. The change in the values of g at a height h above the surface of the earth is the same as at a
depth d below the surface of earth. When both d and h are much smaller than the radius of earth,
then which one of the following is correct? [AIEEE-2005]
A) d = h/2
B) d = 3h/2
C) d = 2h
D) d = h
12. A particle of mass 10 g is kept on the surface of a uniform sphere of mass 100 kg and radius
10 cm. Find the work to be done against the gravitational force between them, to take the
particle far away from the sphere(you may take G= 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2) [AIEEE-2005]
A) 13.34 x 10
B) 3.33 x 10

-10

-10

C) 6.67 x

-9

D) 6.67 x

-10

J
J

13. If gE and gM are the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth and the moon
respectively and if Millikan's oil drop experiment could be performed on the two surface, one will
find the ratio electronic charge on the moon to electric charge on the earth to be- [AIEEE-2007]
A) 1
B) zero
C) gE/gM
D) gM/gE
14. A planet in a distance solar system is 10 times more massive than the earth and its radius is
10 times smaller. Given that the escape velocity from the surface of the planet would be: [AIEEE2008]

A) 1.1 km s
B) 11 km s

-1

-1

C) 110 km s

-1

D) 0.11 km s

-1

15. This question contains statement-1 and statement-2 of the four choices given after the
statements, choose the one that best describes the two statements. [AIEEE-2008]
STATEMENT-1: For a mass M kept at the center of a cube of side 'a', the flux of the gravitation field
passing through its sides is 4GM.
STATEMENT-2: If the direction of a field due to a point source is radial and its dependence on the distance
2

'r' from the source is given as 1/r , its flux through a closed surface depends only on the strength of the
source enclosed by the surface and not on the size or shape of the surface.
A) STATEMENT-1 is false, STATEMENT-2 is true
B) STATEMENT-1 is true, STATEMENT-2 is true; STATEMENT-2 is a correct explanation for STATEMENT-1
C)STATEMENT-1 is true, STATEMENT-2 is true; STATEMENT-2 is not a correct explanation for Statement-1
D) STATEMENT-1 is true, STATEMENT-2 is false.
16. The height at which the acceleration due to gravity becomes g/9 in terms of R, the radius of
the earth , is: [AIEEE-2009]
A) R/2
1/2

B) 2 R
C) 2R
D) R/2

1/2