GRAVITATION

1) The gravitational force between two point masses m1 and m2 at separation

‘r’ is given by
Km1 m2
F= . The constant K
r2
a) Depends on system of units only
b) Depends medium between two masses only
c) Depends on both (a) and (b)
d) Is independent of both (a) and (b)
2) If ‘G’ is gravitational constant and R is the radius of the earth, then
acceleration due to gravity ‘g’ and the mean density of earth D are related
by the equation
g /G
g  4R 3   g  4 2 
a) D =   b) D = 4  R c) D =    R  d) D =
G  3  G 3 
3

g /G
4
 R3
3
3) The escape velocity of an object from the earth depends upon the mass of
earth (M), its mean density () its radius R and the gravitational constant
(G). Thus the formula for escape velocity is
8 8
a) V = R
3
 GR b) V = M
3
 GR c) V = R 2 GMR d) V =

2GM
R2
4) A satellite is orbiting a planet at a certain height in a circular orbit. If the
mass of planet is suddenly reduced to half, the satellite would
a) continue to revolve around the planet at the same speed
b) falls freely on the planet c) orbit the planet at lesser speed
d) Escapes from the planet
5) If the radius of earth were to shrink by 1% its mass remaining the same,
earths surface would
a) Decrease b) increase c) remain unchanged d) None of the above
6) The distances of Neptune and Saturn from the sun are nearly 1013m and
1012m respectively. Assuming that they move in circular orbits, their
periodic times will be in the ratio of
a) 10 b) 10 10 c) 100 d) 1000
7) A geostationary satellite is orbiting the earth at a height of 6R above the
surface of earth, R being the radius of earth. The time period of another
satellite at a height of 2.5R from the surface of earth is
a) 6 2 h b) 6h c) 6/ 2 h d) 10h
8) According to Kepler’s II law the radius vector of a planet relative to sun
sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time. The law is a consequence
of conservation of
a) Linear momentum b) angular momentum c) energy
d)Newton’s law of gravitation
9) Imagine a light planet revolving around a very massive star in a circular
orbit of radius R with a period of revolution T. If the gravitational force of

attraction between the planet and the star is proportional to R-5/2 then

a) T2  R3 b) T2  R7/2 c) T2  R3/2 d) T2  R3.75

10)The escape velocity from the earth is about 11km per second. The escape
velocity from a planet having twice the radius and the same mean density as
earth is
a) 22km/sec b) 11 km/sec c) 5.5 km/sec d) 15.5 km/sec
11) A body of mass m is taken from earth surface to the height equal to radius
of earth, the change in P.E will be
a) mgR b) 1/2mgR c) 2mgR d) 1/4 mgR
12) The ratio of inertial mass to gravitational mass is equal to
 a) 1/2 b) 1 c) 2 d) no fixed number
13)In the gravitational field the work done in transporting mass from one point
to another
a) depends on the length of path of transport b) depends on end
points only
c) depends on length of path and end points – both
d) Depends on velocity of transport and end points – both
14) Two particles of equal masses (each of mass m) go around a circle of
radius R under the action of their mutual attraction. The speed of each
particle is
1 1 Gm 1 Gm 4 Gm
a) b) c) d)
2R Gm 2R 2 R R

15) A satellite of mass ‘m’ is circulating around the earth with constant angular
velocity. If the radius of the orbit is R0 and mass of earth is M the angular
momentum of satellite about the centre of earth is
GM GM Gm
a) m R0
b) m GMR0 c) m R0
d) M R0

Key:
1) a 2) b 3) a 4) d 5) b 6) b 7) a 8) b 9) b 10)a
11)b 12) b 13) b 14) c 15) b