Gravitation

Keplers first law (law of elliptical orbit):- A planet moves round the sun in an elliptical

orbit with sun situated at one of its foci.

Keplers second law (law of areal velocities):- A planet moves round the sun in such a

way that its areal velocity is constant.

Keplers third law (law of time period):- A planet moves round the sun in such a way that
the square of its period is proportional to the cube of semi major axis of its elliptical orbit.

T2 R3
Here R is the radius of orbit.
T2 = (42/GM)R 3

Newtons law of gravitation:-

Every

particle

of

matter

in

this

universe

attracts

every

other

particle with a forcer which varies directly as the product of masses

of two particles and inversely as the square of the distance between
them.
F= GMm/r2
Here, G is universal gravitational constant. G = 6.67 10

-11

Nm2 / kg2

Dimensional formula of G: G = Fr2/Mm =[MLT-2][L2]/[M2] = [M-1L3T-2]

Acceleration due to gravity (g):- g = GM/R2

Variation of g with altitude:- g' = g(1- 2h/R), if h<<R. Here R is the radius of earth and h is

the height of the body above the surface of earth.

Variation of g with depth:- g' = g(1- d/R). Here g' be the value of acceleration due to gravity

at the depth d.
Variation with latitude:At poles:- = 90, g' = g
At equator:- = 0, g' = g (1-2R/g)
Here is the angular velocity.

As g = GMe/Re2 , therefore gpole > gequator

Gravitational Mass:- m = FR2/GM

Gravitational field intensity:E = F/m

= GM/r2

Weight:- W= mg

Gravitational intensity on the surface of earth (Es):Es = 4/3 (RG)

Here R is the radius of earth, is the density of earth and G is the
gravitational constant.

Gravitational potential energy (U):- U = -GMm/r

(a) Two particles: U = -Gm1m2/r
(b) hree particles: U = -Gm1m2/r12 Gm1m3/r13 Gm2m3/r23

Gravitational potential (V):- V(r) = -GM/r

At surface of earth,
Vs =

-GM/R

Here R is the radius of earth.

Escape velocity (ve):-

It

is

defined

as

the

least

projected vertically upward

gravitational pull of earth.

velocity

with

which

body

must

be

in order that it may just escape the

ve = 2GM/R
or, ve = 2gR = gD
Here R is the radius of earth and D is the diameter of the earth.

Escape velocity (ve) in terms of earths density:- ve = R8G/3

Orbital velocity (v0):v0 = GM/r

If a satellite

of mass m revolves in a circular orbit around the

earth of radius R and h be the height of the satellite above the

surface of the earth, then,
r = R+h
So, v0 = MG/R+h = Rg/R+h
In the case of satellite, orbiting very close to the surface of
earth, then orbital velocity will be,
v0 = gR

Relation between escape velocity ve and orbital velocity v0 :- v0= ve/2 (if h<<R)

Time period of Satellite:- Time period of a satellite is the time taken by the satellite to
complete one revolution around the earth.
T = 2(R+h)3/GM = (2/R)(R+h)3/g
If h<<R, T = 2R/g

Height of satellite:- h = [gR2T2/42]1/3 R

Energy of satellite:Kinetic energy, K = mv02 = (GMm/r)

Potential energy, U = - GMm/r
Total energy, E = K+U
= (GMm/r) + (- GMm/r)
= - (GMm/r)

Gravitational force in terms of potential energy:- F = (dU/dR)

Acceleration on moon:gm = GMm/Rm2 = 1/6 gearth

Here Mm is the mass of moon and Rm is the radius of moon.

Gravitational field:(a)

Inside:-

(b)

Outside:-

GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL & FIELD DUE TO VARIOUS OBJECTS

Causing Shape

Gravitational

Gravitational

Graph

Potential (V)

Field (I or E)

V vs R

POINT MASS

AT A POINT ON THE AXIS OF

RING

ROD
1. AT AN AXIAL POINT

V=

2. AT AN EQUATORIAL POINT

CIRCULAR ARC

HOLLOW SPHERE

SOLID SPHERE

LONG THREAD
V=

Projectile:

Projectile fired at angle with the horizontal:- If a particle having initial speed u is
projected at an angle (angle of projection) with x-axis, then,
Time of Ascent, t = (u sin)/g
Total time of Flight, T = (2u sin)/g
Horizontal Range, R = u2sin2/g
Maximum Height, H = u2sin2/2g
Equation

of

trajectory, y = xtan-

(gx2/2u2cos2)
Instantaneous velocity, V=(u2+g2t2-2ugt sin)
and
= tan-1(usin-gt/ucos)

Projectile fired horizontally from a certain height:Equation of trajectory: x2 = (2u2/g)y

Time of descent (timer taken by the projectile to come down to the

surface of earth), T = 2h/g
Horizontal Range, H = u2h/g. Here u is the initial velocity of the
body in horizontal direction.
Instantaneous velocity:V=u2+g2t2
If be the angle which V makes with the horizontal, then,
= tan-1(-gt/u)

Projectile fired at angle with the vertical:Time of Ascent, t = (u cos)/g

Total time of Flight, T = (2u cos)/g
Horizontal Range, R = u2sin2/g
Maximum Height, H = u2cos2/2g
Equation of trajectory, y = x cot-(gx2/2u2sin2)
Instantaneous

velocity, V=(u2+g2t2-2ugt cos)

gt/usin)

Projectile fired from the base of an inclined plane:Horizontal Range, R = 2u2 cos(+) sin/gcos2
Time of flight, T = 2u sin/ gcos
Here, +=

and =

tan-1(ucos-