Gravitation - Previous Year IIT JEE Solved Questions

Example Problem 1 (IIT JEE, 1981) If the radius of the earth were to shrink by one percent, its mass remaining the same, the acceleration due to gravity on the earths surface would: a) b) c) d) Decrease Remain unchanged Increase Be zero

Solution The acceleration due to gravity is GM/R2 on the surface of the earth. When R decreases, the acceleration will increase. So the answer is c).

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 2 (IIT JEE, 1984) The numerical value of the angular velocity of rotation of the earth should be _____ rad/s in order to make the effective acceleration due to gravity at the equator equal to zero. Solution We just learnt that g = acceleration due to gravity = g R2cos2 where is the angular velocity of the earth and is the latitudinal angle. At the equator the latitudinal angle is 0. Therefore for the acceleration to be zero, 0 = g - R 2(1) or = (g/R)1/2. The value of g is 9.8 m/s2 and the value of R is 6400000 m. Therefore, the angular velocity of the earth should be 1.24 x 10-3 rad/s.

GRAVITATION - Explained keeping IIT JEE and AIEEE questions in Perspective

mrbarlow.wordpress.com You must have heard of how Isaac Newton saw an apple falling and wondered why is this apple falling on the ground?. He found out a lot about the gravitational force that we are going to study about in detail in this chapter. Law of Gravitation

According to Newtons law of gravitation, if there are two particles of mass m1 and m2 that are at a distance r from each other then, the gravitational force of attraction between them is: F = Gm1m2
2 r

This force acts on each particle along the line joining the two particles and it attracts the two particles together.

-11 2 In this expression, G is the gravitational constant and its value is 6.67 x 10 Nm /kg. Since the value of G is so small, the gravitational force between ordinary masses that we encounter in day to day life is negligible. For example the gravitational force between two 1 kg masses at a distance 1 m -11 apart is 6.67 x 10 N which is extremely less!

The gravitational force is a conservative force. When we talk about the gravitational force of the earth we often shorten the name gravitational force to gravity. The Value of Acceleration Due to Gravity The acceleration with which the earth attracts any body near it is the acceleration due to gravity. Take a look at the mass m in the picture that is being attracted by the earth which has a mass M.

2 2 The acceleration due to gravity is GMm/r = GM/r

m If an object is kept on the surface of the earth, then r = R, the radius of the earth. In that case the 2 2 2 acceleration due to gravity is GM/R . The value of GM/R is approximately 9.8 m/s and is often represented by the symbol g. As the height h of the object above the earths surface increases, the value of r increases and the acceleration due to gravity decreases.
2 2 2 2 At height h, acceleration due to gravity = GM/(R+h) = GM/R (1+h/R) = g/(1+h/R) .

Thus, the acceleration due to gravity for a body placed a height h above the earths surface is -2 g(1+h/R) . If h is very less compared to R, then we can use binomial theorem and write: Acceleration due to gravity at height = g(1-2h/R) when h< We can similarly find out the value of acceleration due to gravity for a particle that is placed at a depth h below the earths surface.

2 The acceleration due to gravity in this case too will be GM/r where r is the distance between the centre of mass of the particle and the centre of mass of the earth.

There is one assumption that we will use in calculating the expression for the acceleration due to gravity at a depth h below the earths surface. This assumption is that the gravitational force of attraction on a mass placed inside a spherical shell is zero. We will learn why this is so later in this chapter. Using this assumption, we can say that only the portion of the earth below the mass m exerts a force

on it as for the portion of the earth above mass m, m lies inside a spherical shell.

2 Thus, the force exerted on mass m is GM/(R-h) where M represents the portion of the earth below mass m.

M =

M (4/3)R
3

3 (4/3)(R-h)

3 So M = (R-h) M

Acceleration due to gravity at a depth h is:

2 3 GM/(R-h) = GM(R-h)/R 2 Putting GM/R = g, we get:

Acceleration due to gravity at a depth h is g(1-h/R). Change in Acceleration Due to Gravity Because of the Rotation of the Earth

Because of the earths rotation, the value of acceleration due to gravity changes. Why does it change? It changes because a centrifugal force acts on any particle placed on the surface of a rotating body. Consider the particle shown that is placed on the surface of the earth. This particle experiences a force mg towards the centre of the earth. It also experiences a force 2 m r towards the right the centrifugal force because of the earths rotation. here represents the angular velocity of the earth about its axis which is the vertical line passing through O shown in the figure.
2 separated by an angle have the resultant magnitude (a +

We know that two vectors 2 1/2 b + 2abcos) .

2 Therefore, the vectors mg and m r acting on the particle placed on the earths surface have the 2 2 2 2 o 1/2. resultant magnitude m(g + ( r) + 2g( r )cos(180 -)) 2 o The angle between mg and m r is 180 where is the angle made by the position vector of the particle with the horizontal.

On simplification, we get the value of the net acceleration experienced by the particle placed on the 2 2 earths surface as g R cos .
2 2 Note that here represents the latitude of the point in consideration and g is 9.8 m/s = GM/R .

The value of acceleration due to gravity is the minimum at the equator and the maximum at the o poles because at the equator, = 0 and at the poles = 90 .

Gravitational Field

The gravitational field represents the extent of the influence of a body in space. This means that if there is a gravitational field because of a body in space, then this field will make a force act on another body placed in that space. In the picture above any body placed near the body shown will experience a gravitational force because of the body. Therefore, we say that the space near the body shown has a gravitational field in it. Any body placed in a gravitational field experiences a gravitational force. The gravitational field is represented by the symbol E and it is a vector quantity. In fact, not just the gravitational force but any force has a field E associated with it. The field represents the region in space in which the force acts.

If a gravitational force of magnitude F acts on a body, then the gravitational field present in the region is F/m. The direction of the gravitational field is the same as the direction of the gravitational force on the body. Gravitational Field Due to a Point Mass What is the extent of influence of a mass m placed in space? That is what the gravitational field due to a point mass m represents.

To calculate the gravitational field due to any body, we first calculate the gravitational force on a point mass placed near that body. Then, we divide the gravitational force on this body by its mass to obtain the gravitational field in the region. In the picture above, we want to calculate the gravitational field due to mass m1. So, we place a 2 point mass m2 near the mass m1. The gravitational force experienced by m2 is Gm1m2/r . 2 Therefore, the gravitational field in the region near m1 is Gm1/r (we have divided the force by m2). The figure below represents the gravitational field at a distance r from a point mass.

The Gravitational Field Due to a Ring of Mass M at a Point on Its Axis Take a look at the ring below whose centre is at the origin of coordinates.

What will be the electrical field because this ring be at a point x on its axis? The electrical field at a distance x from the centre of the ring cannot be directly calculated. So let us consider infinitely small, tiny elements placed on this ring. The mass of each element is dm and if we combine all the elements, we get the complete ring.

Each element of mass dm can be considered to be a point mass. We already know that the electric 2 field because of a point mass at a distance r from it is Gm/r towards the point mass. Therefore the electric field because of each point mass at the point that is at a distance x from the 2 centre of the ring is G(dm)/r .

In the figure above, the arrows represent the direction of gravitational field at the point (x, 0) because of many tiny elements placed on the ring. If you observe carefully, the components of these arrows or fields along the x axis, add up while the components perpendicular to the axis in all directions cancel each other. This might be difficult to visualize but just understand that the net effect of the field because of each point mass on the ring is towards the negative x axis because the components of the fields due to different elements about all directions perpendicular to the x axis cancel each other.

If the angle formed by the field because of each elemental mass at (x, 0) with the x axis is , then dEcos components add up while dEsin components cancel each other. Therefore, the net gravitational field at the point (x, 0) because of the ring is:

This is the gravitational field due to a ring of mass M at a point on its x that is at a distance x from its centre. The direction of this field is towards the centre of the ring. Gravitational Field Because of a Spherical Shell

A spherical shell is empty from inside and has mass only on its surface. The gravitational field because of a spherical shell whose thickness is very less, is given by the expression:
2 GM/r at a distance r from the centre of the spherical shell.

The direction of this gravitational field is towards the centre of the spherical shell. r in the 2 expression GM/r can be taken in any direction in 3 dimensional space from the centre of the spherical shell. The gravitational field inside a spherical shell however, is zero. So, if you consider a point that is at a distance r from the centre of the spherical shell such that r lies inside the spherical shell, then the gravitational field at that point is zero.

The graph below shows the variation of the magnitude of the gravitational field of a spherical shell with the distance from the centre of the sphere.

We have discussed about what expression for the gravitational field due to a spherical shell is but where did this expression come from? Why is the gravitational field inside a spherical shell zero? This can be derived by first calculating the gravitational field due to an elemental ring at a distance r from the centre of the elemental ring and then integrating the field due to all such rings possible in the spherical shell. Take a look at the elemental ring below.

Try calculating the gravitational field because of this elemental ring at a distance r from the centre of theshell on the axis of the ring. We already know the expression for the gravitational field due to an elemental ring. After calculating the field due to the elemental ring, integrate the field due to all such rings at a distance r from the centre of the shell to calculate the net field because of the spherical shell. We will not derive the expression for the spherical shells gravitational field here you know the procedure so try doing it yourself.
2 After all the integration, the gravitational field at a distance r comes out to be GM/r if the point lies outside the shell and zero if the point lies inside the shell.

Gravitational Field Because of a Solid Sphere

A solid sphere has mass throughout its volume.

2 The gravitational field at a distance r from the centre of the solid sphere is GM/r if the point at which field is being calculated lies outside the solid sphere. Thus, the expression for the gravitational field outside a sphere is the same irrespective of whether the sphere is a solid sphere or a spherical shell. The direction of the gravitational field because of a solid sphere is also directed towards the centre of the sphere. 3 However, the gravitational field at a distance r from the centre of a solid sphere is GMr/R if the point at which the field is being calculated is inside the sphere. This gravitational field is also directed towards the centre of the sphere.

So you can see that the gravitational field inside a solid sphere is quite different from the gravitational field inside a spherical shell. The graph below shows the variation of the gravitational field of a solid sphere at a point inside the sphere and outside the sphere.

One fascinating fact that you must remember is that the gravitational field of a solid sphere 2 varieslinearly inside the sphere and is inversely proportional to r outside the sphere. Again, can you derive these expressions for the gravitational field of a solid sphere yourself? What

element will you consider in this case?

You can consider an elemental disc an calculate the gravitational field because of this elemental disc at a distance r from the centre of the solid sphere. We already know the expression for the gravitational field because of a disc we just discussed it some time ago. Sometimes, deriving the gravitational field due to rigid bodies might sound complicated but all you really have to do is follow the steps shown below.

Gravitational Potential Energy We have used the term gravitational potential energy in previous chapters. The energy possessed by a body because of its presence in a force field is called potential energy. So, the energy possessed by a body because of its presence in a gravitational field is called its gravitational potential energy. There is however a clearer and more specific way to define gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational potential energy of a system is the net work done in bringing all the parts of that system from infinity to its current position very slowly in the presence of a gravitational field. Consider a system consisting of a point mass m.

What is the gravitational potential energy of this system consisting of only m? The potential energy of m is zero. This is because the net work done in brining a mass m from infinity to its current position is zero. No force is stopping m from coming to its current position from infinity, so no effort is required to bring m to its current position. Hence the potential energy of a system consisting of just one point mass is zero. Now consider a system consisting of two point masses lying at a distance r from each other.

The potential energy of this system is the work done in bringing these two point masses from infinity to their current positions. The work done in bringing the first mass m from infinity to its current position is zero as we saw in the earlier case. The work done in brining the second mass from infinity to its current position very slowly however is not zero because the mass m that is already present exerts a force on the second mass m.

2 2 The force acting on the second mass m as it is brought to its current position is Gm /x towards the first mass m.

Therefore, to bring this second mass very slowly from infinity to its current position, a force F = 2 2 Gm /x must be applied in the opposite direction on the second mass m. If this force is not applied, then the second mass m will get accelerated towards the first mass m which we dont want. We want it to move very slowly towards the first mass m which is why we need to apply force F. The work done by force F(the force we apply to bring the second mass m from infinity to its current position) is the potential energy of the system.

Thus, the net work done in bringing the second mass m from infinity to its current position is:
2 2 -(Gm /x )dx with limits from x

F.dx =

to x = r,

2 This comes out to be Gm /r. The work done is negative because the point mass moves opposite to the direction of the force F that we apply. 2 So work done in bringing both the masses from infinity to their current positions = 0 Gm /r = 2 Gm /r = gravitational potential energy of the system.

If we had two masses of masses m1 and m2, then the gravitational potential energy of the system would be Gm1m2/r.

Gravitational Potential Energy of a System of Particles

The gravitational potential energy of the system of particles shown above is Gm1m3/r1 Gm1m2/r2 Gm2m3/r3 In any given combination of masses, simply add up the products of all the combinations of masses possible divided by the distance between the masses to get the expression for the total gravitational potential energy of the system. Gravitational Potential The net work done in bringing a unit mass (a mass of 1kg) from infinity to a particular point, slowly, is called the gravitational potential of that point. Gravitational potential energy represents the energy of a system but gravitational potential represents the potential energy of a unit mass in a gravitational field that is already present. This might sound confusing, so let us calculate the gravitational potential because of a point mass. Gravitational Potential Due to a Point Mass m at a Distance r From It

The gravitational potential of mass m at a distance r from it is the work done in bringing a unit mass from infinity to a distance r from the mass m slowly. It is basically the potential energy of a system consisting of the mass m and a unit point mass. The work done in bringing a unit point mass from infinity to a distance r from m, slowly is:

F.dx =

2 -Gm(1)/r (dx) with the limits of x varying from infinity to r.

The force F is the force we have to apply on the unit point mass as we bring it slowly towards the point mass m. This gives the expression Gm/r. Therefore, the gravitational potential at a distance r from a point mass m is Gm/r. Gravitational Potential Due to Ring at Point on Its Axis

We know that the gravitational force because of a ring on a unit point mass on its axis is E(1) which is:

Therefore, the work done against this force in bringing a point mass near the ring is:

with limits from x tending to infinity to x = r.

Integrating this expression gives us the value

This is the expression for the gravitational potential due to a ring of mass M at a distance r from its centre, on its axis. [SolvedExample] Example Problem 4 Find the expression for the gravitational potential due to a disc of mass M at a distance r from its centre, on its axis. Solution

We know that the gravitational force because of a ring on a unit point mass on its axis is E(1) which is:

2 Electric field = (2GM/R )

Therefore, the work done against this force in bringing a point mass near the ring is:

with limits from x tending to infinity to x = r.

Integrating this expression gives us the value

This is the expression for the gravitational potential due to a disc of mass M at a distance r from its centre, on its axis.

Gravitational Potential Due to a Spherical Shell and a Solid Sphere

The gravitational potential because of a uniform spherical shell at a point that is at a distance r from the centre of the shell is GM/r if the point lies outside the shell.

The gravitational potential because of a uniform spherical shell at a point that is at a distance r from the centre of the shell and inside it is GM/R. This means that if a point lies inside the spherical shell, then its position does not matter the potential of any point inside the shell is the same as the potential of a point on the surface of the spherical shell = -GM/R.

The gravitational potential because of a uniform solid sphere at a point that is at a distance r from the centre of the sphere is GM/r if the point lies outside the solid sphere.

The gravitational potential because of a solid sphere at a point that is at a distance r from the centre 3 2 2 of the shell and inside it is V = -(GM/R )(1.5R 0.5r ). The Difference in Gravitational Potential Energy of An Earth-Mass System Consider a mass m placed on the surface of the earth.

The gravitational potential energy of the earth-mass system when the mass m is placed on the surface of the earth is GMm/R where M is the mass of the earth and R is the radius of the earth. The gravitational potential energy of the earth-mass system when the mass m is placed at a height h above the earths surface is GMm/(R+h). Therefore, the change in gravitational potential energy when the mass m is raised by a height h above the earths surface is GMm/(R+h) (GMm/R) = GMmh/R(R+h). This can be written as GMmh
2 R (1+h/R) 2 We know that GM/R = g.

So the change in gravitational potential energy = mgh/(1+h/R). If h

Conservation of Energy In most IITJEE, problems related to gravitation, you will have to conserve the net energy of the system at two instants. The net energy of the system consists of the gravitational potential energy of the system and the kinetic energy of the system. You will understand exactly how to do this as we solve problems related to energy conservation.

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 5 (IIT-JEE, 1983) If g is the acceleration due to gravity on the earths 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 radius R of the earth is: a) b) c) d) (1/2)mgR 2mgR mgR (1/4)mgR

Solution We saw that the change in potential energy when an object is raised by a height h is mgh/(1+h/R). Therefore, putting h = R, we get the change in potential energy as mgR(1+R/R) = (1/2)mgR. Therefore option a) is correct.

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 6 Escape velocity represents the velocity to be given to a particle so that it escapes from the earths gravitational field and does not come back. Find the escape velocity for any particle projected from the earths surface. Solution

We can calculate the escape velocity with the help of energy conservation of the earth-particle system. At the surface of the earth, the projected particle has a velocity v. If its mass is m, its kinetic energy will be mv2. The potential energy of the earth-particle system will be GMm/R. Now we want that the particle should never return to the earth again. If the particles velocity becomes zero at some point, then after that instant, the particle will start moving towards the earth. Therefore, we want the particles velocity to become zero only when it is at an infinite distance from the earths surface. Conserving the energy of the earth-mass system, we have: mv2 GMm/R = 0 + 0 v = escape velocity = (2GM/R)1/2 = (2gR)1/2. Substituting the value of g as 9.8 m/s2 and R as 6400 km, we get the value of escape velocity as 11.2km/s.

[SolvedExample]

Example Problem 7 (IIT-JEE, 1994) The magnitudes of the gravitational field at distance r1 and r2 from the centre of a uniform sphere of radius R and mass M are F1 and F2 respectively. Then: a) F1/F2 = r1/r2 if r12>R b) F1/F2 = r22/r12 if r1>R and r2>R c) F1/F2 = r13/r23 if r12>R d) F1/F2 = r12/r22 if r12 Solution If r3)r. If r If r >R, then F = GM/r2. Let us first look at option a). F1/F2 = r1/r2 if r12>R Clearly, F1/F2 = r1/r2 only if r12 Option c) is wrong because there is no question of there being a cubic term. Option d) says that F1/F2 = r12/r22 which cannot be true because that will only happen when F is proportional to r2. a) Hence, option b) is correct. F1/F2 = r22/r12 if r1>R and r2>R. This is true because when r > R, F is inversely proportional to r2.

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 8 (IIT-JEE, 1993)

A solid sphere of uniform density and radius 4 units is located with its centre at the origin O of coordinates. Two spheres of equal radii 1 unit, with their centres at A (-2, 0, 0) and B(2, 0, 0) respectively, are taken out of the solid leaving behind spherical cavities as shown in the figure. Then, a) The gravitational field due to this object at the origin is zero b) The gravitational field at the point B (2, 0, 0) is zero c) The gravitational potential is the same at all points of the circle y2 + z2 = 36 d) The gravitational potential is the same at all points on the circle y2 + z2 = 4 Solution Whenever, a hole inside a rigid body is given, you can consider the mass of the removed part as negative mass. This will help you solve the problem easily. In this case, let us look at the net electric field vectors at O because of the large sphere and the two negative mass spheres.

If the mass of the removed portion is M, then the gravitational field due to each removed sphere is GM/(22) towards the centre of the sphere. These fields cancel each other. The fields are towards the centre of the sphere and not towards the centres of the removed spheres because the masses of the removes spheres are negative. The field due to the big sphere at its centre is 0 as GMr/R3 is 0 when r = 0. Therefore, option a) is correct. Options c) and d) are also correct because both y2 + z2 = 36 and y2 + z2 = 4 represent circles that lie on the y-z plane which have the origin at the center. So every point on each circle will be equidistant from A and B and O. So the gravitational potential because of the removed spheres and the big sphere will be the same for all points on both these circles. Hence, options a), c) and d) are correct. The gravitational potential at B will not be zero because of the removed sphere with centre A and the big solid sphere, as well as the removed sphere with centre B. So b) is wrong.

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 9 (IIT-JEE, 1988) The masses and radii of the Earth and the Moon are M1, R1 and M2, R2 respectively. Their centres are a distance d apart. The minimum speed with which a particle of mass m should be projected from a point midway between the two centres so as to escape to infinity is _______. Solution

The initial energy of the particle is: mv2 G(M1m)/(d/2) GM2m/(d/2). The final energy is zero, because we want the particle to escape to infinity. Therefore, mv2 G(M1m)/(d/2) GM2m/(d/2) = 0.

This gives the value of v as

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 10 (IIT-JEE, 2003) There is a crater of depth R/100 on the surface of the moon (radius R). A projectile is fired vertically upward from the crater with velocity, which is equal to the escape velocity v from the surface of the moon. Find the maximum height attained by the projectile. Solution We had seen that escape velocity

Conserving energy between the maximum height reached by the projectile and the point where it starts: m(2GM/R) (GM/R3)(1.5R2 0.5(R R/100)2]= 0 GMm/h (Kinetic energy initially + potential energy initially = kinetic energy finally which is zero + potential energy finally) This gives the value of h as 101.5R. Therefore, the height reached from the surface of the moon is 101.5 R = 99.5 R.

Satellites

We know that the moon is the earths satellite. Similarly, there are many artificial satellites the circle the earth. Basically, satellites are bodies that revolve around planets like our planet earth. Though the path of most satellites is elliptical, in most cases, we can assume that the orbits of satellites are circular. Take a look at a satellite revolving around the earth in a perfectly circular orbit of radius r below.

Net force on the satellite towards the centre = centripetal force required to make the satellite revolve in a circular orbit.

The net force towards the centre is clearly GMm/r2 = mv2/r Here r is the radius of revolution of the satellite, R is the radius of the earth and M is the mass of the earth. Thus, v = (GM/r)1/2 So, if a satellite revolves around a planet such that its radius of revolution is r, then the velocity with which is should revolve is (GM/r)1/2. The time period of revolution in such a case is distance travelled in one revolution/velocity = 2r/v = 2(r3/gR2)1/2. An interesting fact here is that if a satellite revolves in the same sense as the earth is revolving with the same time period as the of the earths rotation, then it will always e above a certain point on the earths surface! Such satellites which are always stationary with respect to a point on the earths surface are called geo-stationary satellites. Keplers Laws

In reality, planets do not move around the sun in circular orbits

they move in elliptical orbits. The diagram below shows the motion of the earth around the sun.

The point S represents the sun and the point E represents the earth. The longer axis of the ellipse is called the major axis and the smaller axis is the minor axis. Half of the length of the major axis is generally called semi-major axis and it is represented by the symbol a. The distance between the sun and the centre of the ellipse is ae where e is the eccentricity of the ellipse. The earth is closest to the sun when it is on the left end of the ellipse the position of closest approach is called perihelion. Aphelion represents the point when the earth at the maximum possible distance from the sun at the right end of the ellipse.

As the earth or any other planet moves along its elliptical path, the area swept by the radius vector from the sun to the planet in unit time is constant. If this area is A, we can say that dA/dt is constant. In the figure above, if E and E represent the position of the earth at times t and t+dt, then the area of the triangle SEE is dA. dA/dt = rate of sweeping of the area by the radius vector joining the earth and the sun and this is constant. We do not use this law of Keplers directly. We generally use it another form. To derive this form, consider the triangle SEE below again.

dA = area of triangle SEE = (1/2)(base)(height) = (1/2)(SE)(XE) = (1/2)(r)(EEsin) = (1/2)(r)vdtsin) because EE = distance covered by the earth in time dt = vdt. Thus, dA/dt = (1/2)rvsin = constant. Note the angular momentum of the earth about the sun. It is or mvrsin in the direction perpendicular to the plane of paper. But dA/dt = (1/2)rvsin = L/2m. Since dA/dt = constant, we can therefore say that the angular momentum of the earth about the sun is constant. This is the practical use of Keplers second law in our IITJEE problems. In most problems related to Keplers laws, you will have to conserve the angular momentum and energy between two points. Note however that this angular momentum must be calculated about the sun. Also note that in the expression L = mvrsin,

represents the angle between the velocity vector of the earth and the radius vector from the earth to the sun.

Keplers third law can be mathematically stated by the expression:

In this expression M represents the mass of the sun. [SolvedExample] Example Problem 11 (IIT-JEE, 1996) If the distance between the earth and the sun were half its present value, the number of days in a year would have been: a) b) c) d) 64.5 129 182.5 730

Solution In this question, since no other parameters are mentioned, we can assume that the earth is moving around the sun in a circular orbit.

In that case, T a3/2. In the case of circular motion, T r3/2. Therefore, T1/T2 = (r1/r2)3/2 (365/T) = (2/1)3/2 T = 129 days. So an year would last 129 days if the distance between the earth and sun were halved. The answer is b).

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 12 (IIT-JEE, 1998) A satellite S is moving in an elliptical orbit around the earth. The mass of the satellite is very small compared to the mass of the earth: a) The acceleration of S is always directed towards the centre of the earth b) The angular momentum of S about the centre of the earth changes in direction, but its magnitude remains constant c) The total mechanical energy of S varies periodically with time d) The linear momentum of S remains constant in magnitude Solution

What applies force on the satellite? The earth does and the force applied by the earth is towards its centre. Therefore option a) is correct. If you curl your fingers from the direction of the thumb always points in the same direction perpendicular to the plane of paper. So the angular momentum does not change its direction. Option b) is wrong. The force applied by the earth on the satellite is conservative, so the net mechanical energy of the satellite is constant. Option c) is wrong. The speed of the satellite changes as its distance from the earth changes because the potential energy changes as the distance changes (proportional to 1/r) and that changes the kinetic energy. Hence the linear momentums magnitude is also not constant. Option d) is wrong.

[SolvedExample] Example Problem 13 A satellite moves around the earth in an elliptical orbit. Its minimum distance from the sun is 4R and its maximum distance from the earth is 10R. What is its maximum speed?

Solution The speed of the satellite will be maximum when the kinetic energy of the satellite is maximum. The kinetic energy will be maximum when the potential energy will be minimum or the distance of the planet from the satellite is minimum.

Let us conserve the angular momentum and energy of the satellite at the instant when it is at its nearest distance from the earth and when it is farthest from the earth. mv1(4R) = mv2(10R) Here v1 is the velocity of the satellite when it is at its nearest distance to the earth and v2 is the velocity of the satellite when it is farthest from the earth. We want to find the value of v1. Similarly, by conservation of energy: mv12 GMm/4R = mv22 GMm/10R

Solving these equations, we get v1 =