Imagine you have just dropped a pen- just in the same manner that an apple dropped off a tree, it falls straight down to the floor. This is a daily phenomenon that is directed by one uniform force of nature here the gravity that is at work pulling everything to the middle of the earth. This incidental push that made Sir Isaac Newton discover the law of universal gravitation which later became a revolutionary breakthrough that resulted in a revelation in the concept of motions on the ground as well as in the space. The Chapter 7 Class 11 Physics Notes of Gravitation at Careers360 are professionally prepared and are aimed towards making this complicated aspect of science a breeze. The notes will be vital to students pursuing CBSE board exams and highly competitive entrance examinations such as JEE and NEET.
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This chapter explores the concept of gravitational phenomenon in great detail and assists the students in the realization of the fact that gravity is actually the ruler of not only the falling bodies, but also the movement of planets, satellites and star bodies. They include:
The Class 11 Gravitation Notes provide easy explanations of core concept, useful formulas and derivations, elaborated illustrations and diagrams to understand them easily and practice questions, examples of how to apply concepts when solving problems.
Also, students can refer,
Mathematical Form
If m1 and m2 are the particle’s masses and the distance between them is r, the force of attraction F among the particles is given by
$\begin{aligned} & F \propto \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \\ & \therefore F=G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}\end{aligned}$
(G is the universal constant of gravitation.)
Vector Form
The force F21 exerted on the particle m2 by the particle m1 is given by:
$\vec{F}_{21}=-G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \hat{r_{12}}$
Where $\hat{r}_{12}$ is a unit vector drawn from particle m1 to particle m2
Similarly,
$\begin{aligned} & \vec{F}_{12}=-G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \hat{r_{21}} \end{aligned}$
$G=\frac{F r^2}{m_1 m_2}$
$\frac{\text { newton }(\text { metre })^2}{(\mathrm{~kg})^2}$
$\frac{d y n e(\mathrm{~cm})^2}{g m^2}$
$G=6.67 \times 10^{-11} \mathrm{Nm} / \mathrm{kg}^2$
$[G]=\frac{\left[M^1 L^1 T^2\right]\left[M^0 L^0 T^0\right]}{\left[M^2 L^0 T^0\right]}=\left[M^{-1} L^3 T^{-2}\right]$
$g=\frac{G M}{R^2}$
$
g^{\prime} \propto \frac{1}{r^2}
$
Where $r=R+h$
$\begin{aligned} & g^{\prime}=g\left(\frac{R}{R+h}\right)^2=g\left(1+\frac{h}{R}\right)^{-2} \\ & g^{\prime}=g\left[1-\frac{2 h}{R}\right]\end{aligned}$
$g=\frac{G M}{R^2}=\frac{4}{3} \pi \rho g R$
And $g^{\prime} \propto(R-d)$
This means Value of g' decreases on going below the surface of the earth.
So $g^{\prime}=g\left[1-\frac{d}{R}\right]$
The gravitational potential at any place in a gravitational field is defined as the work necessary to transfer a unit mass from infinity to that point.
$\Rightarrow V=-\frac{G M}{r}$
$P . E .=-\frac{G M m}{r}$
1. Because the moon revolves around the earth, it is considered a satellite. Jupiter has a total of sixteen satellites orbiting it. These satellites are referred to as natural satellites.
2. A human-built artificial satellite is one that has been sent into a circular orbit. The first satellite, SPUTNIK–I, was launched by the Soviet Union, whereas the first satellite, ARYABHATTA, was launched by India.
Assume that a satellite is launched from the earth's surface using a single-stage launching method. Once the rocket's fuel is ignited, the rocket begins to ascend. The rocket reaches its maximum velocity when all of the fuels have been used up.
1. The rocket escapes into space with the satellite if its maximum velocity is equal to or greater than the escape velocity, exceeding the earth's gravitational force.
2. If the rocket's greatest velocity is less than escape velocity, it will be unable to defy the earth's gravitational attraction, and both the rocket and the satellite will eventually crash to the ground.
As a result, a single-stage rocket will not be able to place a satellite into a circular orbit around the Earth. As a result, a launching device is required to place a satellite into a circular orbit around the Earth.
Expressions for Different Energies of Satellite
1. Potential Energy (P.E.):
The satellite is at a distance (R + h) from the centre of the earth.
$\begin{aligned} & U=-\frac{G m_1 m_2}{r} \\ & \Rightarrow-\frac{G M m}{R+h}=U\end{aligned}$
2. Kinetic Energy (K.E.):
The Revolution of satellites around circular orbit is having critical velocity (vc). Hence its kinetic energy is given by:
$\begin{aligned} & K . E .=\frac{1}{2} m v_c{ }^2 \\ & v_c=\sqrt{\frac{G M}{R+h}} \\ & \Rightarrow K \cdot E \cdot=\frac{1}{2} m\left(\frac{G M}{R+h}\right)=\frac{G M m}{2(R+h)}\end{aligned}$
3. Total Energy (T.E.):
$T . E .=-\frac{G M m}{R+h}+\frac{G M m}{2(R+h)}=-\frac{G M m}{2(R+h)}$
4. Binding Energy (B.E.)
T.E. = -(B.E.)
Kepler gave three laws of planetary motion. They are:
$r^3 / T^2=$ constant
When a satellite is lifted to a specific height above the earth and then projected horizontally, the following four scenarios may occur, depending on the amount of horizontal velocity.
1. If the projection velocity is smaller than the critical velocity, the satellite will move in an elliptical orbit, but the point of projection will be apogee, and the spacecraft will approach the earth with its perigee point at 180o. If it enters the atmosphere as it approaches perigee, it loses energy and spirals downward. It will continue to fly in an elliptical orbit if it does not enter the atmosphere.
2. If the projected velocity achieves the critical velocity, the satellite will move in a circular orbit around the planet.
3. The satellite will be in an elliptical orbit with an apogee greater than the predicted height if the projected velocity is more than the critical velocity but less than the escape velocity.
4. The satellite goes in a parabolic path if the projection velocity is equal to the escape velocity.
5. If the projection velocity is greater than the escape velocity, the orbit will become hyperbolic, escaping the earth's gravitational attraction and continuing to travel indefinitely.
Assume that a mass m satellite is elevated to a height h above the earth's surface and then projected horizontally with an orbital velocity vo. The satellite starts moving around the globe in a circular orbit with a radius of R + h, where R is the earth's radius.
The gravitational force acting on the satellite is $\frac{G M m}{(R+h)^2}$
where M is the mass of the earth and Gis the constant of gravitation.
For circular motion,
Centrifugal force = Centripetal force
$\begin{aligned} & \frac{m v_o{ }^2}{(R+h)}=\frac{G M m}{(R+h)^2} \\ & \therefore v_o=\sqrt{\frac{G M}{(R+h)}}\end{aligned}$
Kinetic Energy of projection = Binding Energy
$\begin{aligned} & \frac{1}{2} m v_e^2=\frac{G M m}{r} \\ & \Rightarrow v_e=\sqrt{\frac{2 G M}{R}}=\sqrt{2 g R}\end{aligned}$
1. A feeling of weightlessness is similar to a moving satellite since it alludes to the gravitational force that draws a body towards the earth's centre. It isn't due to the fact that the weight is zero.
2. A gravitational pull exerts on an astronaut when he is on the surface of the earth. This gravitational force is equal to an astronaut's weight, and an astronaut exerts this force on the earth's surface. The earth's surface produces an equal and opposite reaction, and he feels his weight on the ground as a result of this reaction.
3. An astronaut on an orbiting spacecraft experiences the same acceleration towards the earth's centre as the satellite, and this acceleration is equal to the acceleration due to the earth's gravity.
As a result, the astronaut has no impact on the satellite's floor. The astronaut, of course, is unaffected by the floor's reaction force. Because there is no reaction, the astronaut has a sense of weightlessness. (In other words, he has no concept of how heavy he is.)
Q1: If the mass of sun were ten times smaller and gravitational constant G were ten times larger in magnitudes
a) walking on ground would become more difficult
b) the acceleration due to gravity on earth will not change
c) raindrops will fall much faster
d) aeroplanes will have to travel much faster
Answer:
If $G^{\prime}=10 G$
And $M_s^{\prime}=\frac{M_s}{10}$
Then $g^{\prime}=\frac{G^{\prime} M_E}{r^2}=\frac{10 G M}{r^2}=10 g$
Weight of a person $=m g^{\prime}=10 \mathrm{mg}$
Hence statement (a) is correct, and statement (b) is incorrect
Fon man due to sun $=\frac{G M_s^{\prime} m}{r^2}=\frac{G M_s m}{10 r^2}$
The terminal velocity $v_T \alpha g^{\prime}$ or $\quad v_T \alpha 10 g$
Hence raindrops fall 10 times faster. Option statement (c) is correct
In order to maintain the speed after the increase in gravitational force, the aeroplane will have to travel faster.
Hence, answer are the option (a), (c) and (d)
Q2: If the law of gravitation, instead of being inverse-square law, becomes an inverse-cube-law
a) planets will not have elliptic orbits
b) circular orbits of planets is not possible
c) projectile motion of a stone thrown by hand on the surface of the earth will be approximately parabolic
d) there will be no gravitational force inside a spherical shell of uniform density
Answer:
If the law of gravitation suddenly changes and becomes an inverse cube law, then the law of areas still holds. This is because the force will still be central force, due to which angular momentum will remain constant.
Also, for a planet of mass $m$ revolving around the sun of mass $M$, we can write according to the question,
$
F=\frac{G M m}{a^3}=\frac{m v^2}{a}
$
$\left[\because\right.$ Centripetal force, $\left.m \omega^2 a=\frac{m v^2}{a}\right]$
where, $a$ is radius of orbiting planet.
Orbital speed, $v=\frac{\sqrt{G M}}{a} \Rightarrow v \propto \frac{1}{a}$
Time period of revolution of a planet,
$
T=\frac{2 \pi r}{v}
$
On putting the value of orbital speed, we get
$
\begin{aligned}
& T=\frac{2 \pi a}{\frac{\sqrt{G M}}{a}}=\frac{2 \pi a^2}{\sqrt{G M}} \\
& \Rightarrow T^2 \propto a^4
\end{aligned}
$
Hence, the orbit of the planet around sun will not be elliptical because for elliptical orbit $T^2 \propto a^3$.
Hence, the orbit of the planet around sun will not be circular because for circular orbit $T^2 \propto a^3$.
As force $F=\left(\frac{G M}{a^3}\right) m=g^{\prime} m$, where $g^{\prime}=\frac{G M}{a^3}$.
Since, $g^{\prime}=$ acceleration due to gravity is constant, hence path followed by a projectile will be approximately parabolic ( as $T \propto a^2$ ).
Hence, the answer are the options (a), (b) and (c).
Q3: Which of the following options is correct?
a) acceleration due to gravity decreases with increasing altitude
b) acceleration due to gravity increases with increasing depth
c) acceleration due to gravity increases with increasing latitude
d) acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the earth
Answer:
g at an altitude $g\left(1-\frac{2 h}{R}\right)$
Acceleration due to gravity decreases with increasing altitude. Hence statement (a) is correct
$g^\lambda=g-\omega^2 R(\cos \lambda)^2$
As cos is a decreasing function, the value of gravity increases with an increase in latitude, i.e. from the equator to the pole. Hence, statement (c) is correct
$g=\frac{G M}{R^2}$ Where M is the mass of the earth. Hence, statement (d) is incorrect
Hence the answer are the options (a) and (c).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While NCERT gives a detailed theory, these notes provide a simplified summary, quick revision points, and exam-oriented explanations, which save time during preparation.
A gravitational field is the region around a mass where it exerts a force on other masses. It is calculated as the gravitational force per unit mass at a point.
Kepler’s laws explain the motion of planets around the Sun and form the foundation of orbital mechanics used in astronomy and satellite systems.
Yes, the notes are prepared in alignment with the CBSE and NCERT syllabus and also focus on conceptual clarity, which is crucial for exams like JEE, NEET, and other competitive tests.
The NCERT notes for Class 11 Physics chapter 7 do not include any derivations. This NCERT note summarizes the chapter's important points and equations and can be used to review the gravitation.
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