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CHAPTER 10: GRAVITATION This acceleration is known as acceleration due to gravity

(g). Its value is given by 9.8 m/s2.
IN-TEXT / PAGE 144
IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 148
1. State the universal law of gravitation.
1. What are the differences between the mass of an
Answer: The universal law of gravitation states that object and its weight?
every object in the universe attracts every other object
Answer:
with a force called the gravitational force. The force
acting between two objects is directly proportional to S.O. Mass Weight
the product of their masses and inversely proportional I. Mass is the quantity Weight is the force of
to the square of the distance between their centers. of matter contained gravity acting on the
For two objects of masses m1 and m2 and the distance in the body. body.
between them ‘r’, the force (F) of attraction acting II. It is the measure of It is the measure of
between them is given by the universal law of inertia of the body. gravity.
gravitation as:
III. Mass is a constant Weight is not a constant
quantity. quantity. It is different at
different places.
IV. It only has It has magnitude as well
Where, G is the universal gravitation constant and its
magnitude. as direction.
value is 6.67×10-11 Nm2 kg-2.
V. Its SI unit is kilogram Its SI unit is the same as
2. Write the formula to find the magnitude of the (kg). the SI unit of force, i.e.,
gravitational force between the earth and an object on Newton (N).
the surface of the earth.
2. Why is the weight of an object on the moon 1/6th its
Answer: The gravitational force between the earth and weight on the earth?
an object on the surface of the earth is
Answer: Mass of the moon is 1/100 times and radius of
moon is 1/4 times that of the earth.

Where G is the universal gravitational constant Therefore, the gravitational attraction on the moon is
M is the mass of earth about one sixth of that on the earth. Hence, the weight
m is the mass of object on the surface of earth of an object on the moon is 1/6th of the weight on the
d is the distance between the two bodies. earth.

IN-TEXT / PAGE 146 IN-TEXT / PAGE 151

1. Why is it difficult to hold a school bag having a strap

1. What do you mean by free fall?
made of a thin and strong string?
Answer: Gravity of the Earth attracts every object
towards its centre. When an object is released from a Answer: It is difficult to hold a school bag having a thin
height, it falls towards the surface of the Earth under strap because the pressure on the shoulders is quite
the influence of gravitational force. The motion of the large. This is because the pressure is inversely
proportional to the surface area on which the force
object is said to have free fall.
acts. The smaller is the surface area; the larger will be
2. What do you mean by acceleration due to gravity? the pressure on the surface. In the case of a thin strap,
the contact surface area is very small. Hence, the
Answer: When an object falls towards the ground from pressure exerted on the shoulder is very large.
a height, then its velocity changes during the fall. This
changing velocity produces acceleration in the object. 2. What do you mean by buoyancy?

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Answer: The upward force exerted by a liquid on an objects of mass M and m is proportional to the product
object immersed in it is known as buoyancy. When you of their masses and inversely proportional to the square
try to immerse an object in water, then you can feel an of distance r between them
upward force exerted on the object, which increases as
you push the object deeper into water. So, force F is given by

3. Why does an object float or sink when placed on the

surface of water?

Answer: If the density of an object is more than the

density of the liquid, then it sinks in the liquid. This is
because the buoyant force acting on the object is less
than the force of gravity. On the other hand, if the
density of the object is less than the density of the
liquid, then it floats on the surface of the liquid. This is Hence, if the distance is reduced to half, then the
because the buoyant force acting on the object is gravitational force becomes four times larger than the
greater than the force of gravity. previous value.

IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 152 2. Gravitational force acts on all objects in proportion
to their masses. Why then, a heavy object does not fall
1. You find your mass to be 42 kg on a weighing faster than a light object?
machine. Is your mass more or less than 42 kg?
Answer: All objects fall on ground with constant
Answer: When you weigh your body, an upward force acceleration, called acceleration due to gravity (in the
acts on it. This upward force is the buoyant force. As a absence of air resistances). It is constant and does not
result, the body gets pushed slightly upwards, causing depend upon the mass of an object. Hence, heavy
the weighing machine to show a reading less than the objects do not fall faster than light objects.
actual value.
3. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force
2. You have a bag of cotton and an iron bar, each between the earth and a 1 kg object on its surface?
indicating a mass of 100 kg when measured on a (Mass of the earth is 6 × 1024 kg and radius of the
weighing machine. In reality, one is heavier than other. earth is 6.4 × 106 m).
Can you say which one is heavier and why?
Answer: Given that,
Answer: The bag of cotton is heavier than iron bar. This Mass of the body, m= 1 kg
is because the surface area of the cotton bag is larger Mass of the Earth, M= 6×1024 kg
than the iron bar. Hence, more buoyant force acts on Radius of the earth, R= 6.4×106 m
the bag than that on an iron bar. This makes the cotton
bag lighter than its actual value. Now, magnitude of the gravitational force (F) between
the earth and the body can be calculated.
For this reason, the iron bar and the bag of cotton show
the same mass on the weighing machine, but actually
the mass of the cotton bag is more than that of the iron
bar.

EXERCISE

1. How does the force of gravitation between two 4. The earth and the moon are attracted to each other
objects change when the distance between them is by gravitational force. Does the earth attract the moon
reduced to half? with a force that is greater or smaller or the same as
the force with which the moon attracts the earth?
Answer: According to Universal Law of gravitation, the Why?
gravitational force of attraction between any two

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Answer: According to the universal law of gravitation, Answer: Universal law of Gravitation is important
two objects attract each other with equal force, but in because it it tells us about:
opposite directions. The Earth attracts the moon with
an equal force with which the moon attracts the earth. i. the force that is responsible for binding us to Earth.
ii. the motion of moon around the earth
5. If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth iii. the motion of planets around the sun
not move towards the moon? iv. the tides formed by rising and falling of water level in
the ocean are due to the gravitational force exerted by
Answer: The Earth and the moon experience equal both sun and moon on the earth.
gravitational forces from each other. However, the
mass of the Earth is much larger than the mass of the 8. What is the acceleration of free fall?
moon. Hence, it accelerates at a rate lesser than the
acceleration rate of the moon towards the Earth. For Answer: Acceleration of free fall is the acceleration
this reason, the Earth does not move towards the produced when a body falls under the influence of the
moon. force of gravitation of the earth alone. It is denoted by g
and its value on the surface of the earth is 9.8 ms-2.
6. What happens to the force between two objects, if
(i) the mass of one object is doubled? 9. What do we call the gravitational force between the
(ii) the distance between the objects is doubled and Earth and an object?
tripled?
Answer: Gravitational force between the earth and an
(iii) the masses of both objects are doubled?
object is known as the weight of the object.
Answer: From Universal law of gravitation, force
10. Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the
exerted on an object of mass m by earth is given by
instruction of one of his friends. He hands over the
same when he meets him at the equator. Will the
friend agree with the weight of gold bought? If not,
why? [Hint: The value of gis greater at the poles than
at the equator].

Answer: Weight of a body on the Earth is given by:

W = mg

Where,
So as the mass of any one of the object is doubled the
force is also doubled. m = Mass of the body
g = Acceleration due to gravity
(ii) The force F is inversely proportional to the distance
between the objects. So if the distance between two The value of gis greater at poles than at the equator.
objects is doubled then the gravitational force of Therefore, gold at the equator weighs less than at the
attraction between them is reduced to one fourth (1/4) poles. Hence, Amit's friend will not agree with the
of its original value. weight of the gold bought.

Similarly, if the distance between two objects is tripled, 11. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that
then the gravitational force of attraction becomes one is crumpled into a ball?
ninth (1/9) of its original value.
Answer: When a sheet of paper is crumbled into a ball,
(iii) Force F is directly proportional to the product of then its density increases. Hence, resistance to its
both the masses. So, if both the masses are doubled motion through the air decreases and it falls faster than
then the gravitational force of attraction becomes four the sheet of paper.
times the original value.
12. Name the instrument with which weight is
7. What is the importance of universal law of measured.
gravitation?
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Answer: Weighing scale or Strain gauge scale is used for Therefore,

measuring weight of a body. g =GM/r2
= (6.673 x 10-11N·m2kg2 x 108)/103
13. When an object falls to the ground, the earth = 6673 x 10-3
moves up to meet it. Why is the earth's motion not = 6.673 x 10 m/s2
noticeable? Explain. = 66.73 m/s2
Answer: As compared to the earth, all the masses will 18. A boy throws a ball upwards from the ground, it
be small or negligible. Therefore the earth motion is reaches back to him after 4 s. (a) With what velocity
also negligible. was it thrown? (b) What was the maximum height
reached?
14. Explain why one can jump higher at the surface of
the moon than on the surface of earth. Take g= 10ms-2
Answer: One can jump higher at the surface of the Answer: Time to reach Maximum height,
Moon than on the surface of the Earth as the t = 4/2
gravitational pull of the moon is 1/6th of the Earth. = 2 s.
15. Where does the centre of gravity of the following v = 0 (at the maximum height)
bodies lie (i) sphere (ii) square (iii) triangle (iv) g = - 10 m s-²
rectangle.
a) Using, v = u + gt, we get
Answer: i. The center of gravity of a sphere is at its
center. 0 = u - 10 × 2
or, u = 20 ms-¹
ii. The center of gravity of a square is at the points
where its diagonals meet each other. Thus, the velocity with which it was thrown up
= 30 ms-¹
iii. The center of gravity of a triangle is at the point
where the medians of the triangle meet. b) Using, 2aS = v² - u², we get
S = v²- u²/2g
iv. The center of gravity of a rectangle is at the points = 0 - 202/- 2× 10
where its diagonals meet each other. = - 400 m / -20
= 20 m
16. Mention some applications of Newton's law of
gravitation. Thus, Maximum height it reaches = 20 m.
Answer: Some application of the universal law of 19. Gravitational force on the surface of the moon is
gravitation are: only 1/6 as strong as gravitational force on the Earth.
What is the weight in newtons of a 10 kg object on the
i. We use this to calculate the force or pull of gravity of
moon and on the Earth?
the planets of the earth, earth included.
Answer: Weight of an object on the moon
ii. This law also comes in handy when calculating the
= 1/6 ×Weight of an object on the Earth
trajectory of astronomical bodies and to predict there
motion. Also,
8 3
17. The mass of a planet is 10 kg and its radius is 10 Weight = Mass × Acceleration
m. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on its Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s2
surface. Use the known value of G.
Therefore, weight of a 10 kg object on the Earth
Answer: Mass = 108 kg = 10 × 9.8 = 98 N
Radius = 103 m
G = 6.673 x 10-11N·m2kg2

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And, weight of the same object on the moon 21. A stone is released from the top of a tower of
= 1.6 × 9.8 height 19.6 m. Calculate its final velocity just before
= 16.3 N. touching the ground.

20. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity Answer: According to the equation of motion under
of 49 m/s. Calculate gravity:

(i) the maximum height to which it rises. v2 − u2 = 2 gs

(ii) the total time it takes to return to the surface of
the earth. Where,

Answer: According to the equation of motion under u = Initial velocity of the stone = 0
gravity: v = Final velocity of the stone
s = Height of the stone = 19.6 m
v2 - u2 = 2gs g = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m s-2

Where, ∴ v2 − 02 = 2 × 9.8 × 19.6

v2 = 2 × 9.8 × 19.6 = (19.6)2
u = Initial velocity of the ball v = 19.6 m s-1
v = Final velocity of the ball
s = Height achieved by the ball Hence, the velocity of the stone just before touching
g = Acceleration due to gravity the ground is 19.6 m s-1.

At maximum height, final velocity of the ball is zero, i.e., 22. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial
v= 0 velocity of 40 m/s. Taking g = 10 m/s2, find the
u = 49 m/s maximum height reached by the stone. What is the net
displacement and the total distance covered by the
During upward motion, g = -9.8 m s-2 stone?
Let h be the maximum height attained by the ball. Answer: According to the equation of motion under
gravity:
Hence,
v2 − u2 = 2 gs
0 - 492 = 2×9.8×h
⇒ h = 492/(2×9.8) Where,
⇒ h = 2401/19.6 = 122.5
u = Initial velocity of the stone = 40 m/s
Let t be the time taken by the ball to reach the height v = Final velocity of the stone = 0
122.5 m, then according to the equation of motion: s = Height of the stone
g = Acceleration due to gravity = −10 m s−2
v = u + gt
Let h be the maximum height attained by the stone.
We get,
Therefore,
0 = 49 + t x (- 9.8)
9.8t = 49 0 - (40)2 = 2×h×(-10)
t = 49 / 9.8 = 5s h = (40×40)/20
= 80 m
Also,
Therefore, total distance covered by the stone during its
Time of ascent = Time of descent
upward and downward journey = 80 + 80
Therefore, total time taken by the ball to return = 5 + 5 = 160 m
= 10 s
Net displacement of the stone during its upward and
downward journey
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= 80 + (−80) Answer:
=0

23. Calculate the force of gravitation between the

earth and the Sun, given that the mass of the earth = 6
× 1024 kg and of the Sun = 2 × 1030 kg. The average
distance between the two is 1.5 × 1011 m.

Answer: According to question,

MS = Mass of the Sun = 2×1030 kg
ME = Mass of the Earth = 6×1024 kg
R = Average distance between the Earth and the Sun
= 1.5×1011 m

From Universal law of gravitation,

24. A stone is allowed to fall from the top of a tower

100 m high and at the same time another stone is
projected vertically upwards from the ground with a
velocity of 25 m/s. Calculate when and where the two Hence the stone meet at a height of 20 m above the
stones will meet. ground after 4 seconds.

25. A ball thrown up vertically returns to the thrower

after 6 s. Find
(a) the velocity with which it was thrown up,
(b) the maximum height it reaches, and
(c) its position after 4 s.

Answer: Time to reach Maximum height,

t = 6/2
= 3 s.

v = 0 (at the maximum height)

g = - 9.8 m s-²

a) Using, v = u + at, we get

0 = u - 9.8 × 3
or, u = 29.4 ms-¹

Thus, the velocity with which it was thrown up

= 29.4ms-¹

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b) Using, 2aS = v² - u², we get The density of the substance is more than the density of
S = v²- u²/2g water (1 g cm−3). Hence, the substance will sink in
= 0 - 29.4 × 29.4/- 2× 9.8 water.
= 44.1 m
29. The volume of a 500 g sealed packet is 350 cm3.
Thus, Maximum height it reaches = 44.1 m. Will the packet float or sink in water if the density of
water is 1 g cm−3? What will be the mass of the water
c) Here, t = 4s. In 3 s, the ball reaches the maximum displaced by this packet?
height and in 1 s it falls from the top.
Answer: Density of the 500 g sealed packet
Distance covered in 1 s from maximum height, = Mass of the Packet / Volume of the Packet
S = ut + 1/2gt ² = 500 / 350
= 0 + 1/2 × 9.8 × 1 = 1.428 g cm−3
= 4.9 m
The density of the substance is more than the density of
Therefore, the ball will be 4.9 m below the top of the water (1 g cm−3). Hence, it will sink in water.
tower after 4 s.
The mass of water displaced by the packet is equal to
26. In what direction does the buoyant force on an the volume of the packet, i.e., 350 g.
object immersed in a liquid act?
30. If the upthrust is considered as action; what is the
Answer: An object immersed in a liquid experiences reaction? This reaction is exerted on what and by
buoyant force in the upward direction. what?
27. Why does a block of plastic released under water Answer: The reaction of the upthrust is known as
come up to the surface of water? buoyant force.
Answer: For an object immersed in water two force acts It acts on the object as an downward force.
on it
31. Will a body weigh more in air or in vacuum when
i. gravitational force which tends to pull object in weighed with a spring balance? Give a reason for your
downward direction. answer.
ii. buoyant force that pushes the object in upward
direction. Answer: The body will weigh more in a vacuum than in
the air. This happens because of the upward buoyant
Here, in this case buoyant force is greater than the force that the particles in air provide to the body that
gravitational pull on the plastic block. This is the reason reduces the weight of the body.
the plastic block comes up to the surface of the water
as soon as it is released under water. 32. A steel needle sinks in water but a steel ship floats.
Explain how?
28. The volume of 50 g of a substance is 20 cm3. If the
density of water is 1 g cm−3, will the substance float or Answer: An object will float in water if its density is less
sink? than that of water. A steel needle sinks since its density
is more than water. The interior of a ship is hollow.
Answer: If the density of an object is more than the Therefore, its average density is less than that of water,
density of a liquid, then it sinks in the liquid. On the therefore, it floats.
other hand, if the density of an object is less than the
density of a liquid, then it floats on the surface of the 33. A body of mass 4.5 kg displaces 200 cm3 of water
liquid. when fully immersed inside it. Calculate: (a) The
volume of the body (b) upthrust on body (c) Apparent
Here, density of the substance weigh of body in water.
= Mass of the substance / Volume of the substance
= 50/20 Answer: (i) Volume of body is equal to the volume of
= 2.5 g cm-3 water displaced.
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Vb =Vw =200 cm3 5. A balloon filled with hydrogen rises upwards

because:
(ii) Upthrust, B=Vbρw g [ρw is density of water]
3
=200 cm ×1000×10 Answer: iv. the weight of the balloon is less than the
=0.0002 m3 x 1000 x 10 weight of the air displaced by it.
= 2 kgf
6. The unit of relative density is:
(iii) Apparent weight = W−B
= 4.5 − 2 Answer: iv. It doesn’t have a unit
= 2 kgf
7. The stem of a hydrometer is made narrow because
34. A cube of wood of side 10 cm floats in water with it:
4.5 cm of its depth below the surface, and with its
Answer: iii. Increases its sensitivity
sides vertical. What is the density of wood? Density of
water = 1.0 x 103 kg m-3 *****
Answer: Side of cube= 10 cm= 0.1 m
Volume of cube= 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1
= 0.001 m³

Height of cube under water = 4.5 cm

= 0.045 m

Volume of cube under water = 0.045 x 0.1 x 0.1

= 0.00045 m³

Density of wood = part of volume submerged x density

of water part of volume submerged
= 0.00045/0.001
= 0.45

∴ Density of wood = 0.45 x 1000 [density of water]

=450 kg/m³

TICK (✓) THE CORRECT OPTION

1. A stone is dropped from the top of the tower. Its

speed after it has fallen 20m is (Take g=10 ms-1)

Answer: iv. 20 ms-1

2. If the earth stops rotating the value of 'g' at the

equator will:

Answer: i. Increase

3. In vacuum all freely falling objects:

Answer: iii. have the same acceleration

4. A bomb is released from an aircraft. Its trajectory is:

Answer: ii. Parabola

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