Gravitation

Topics in this chapter

• Gravitational Field and Potential
• Gravitational Work and Energy
• Orbital Motion and Kepler’s Laws
• Earth’s Gravity and Its Variation
• Gravitational Oscillations and Equilibrium

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-C45EDB

   If the radius of the Earth shrinks by $1\%$ while its mass remains unchanged, the acceleration due to gravity on its surface will approximately:

   1. A.A
   2. B.B
   3. C.C
   4. D.D
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-91F519

   A satellite is orbiting the Earth in a circular orbit of radius $r$ with speed $v$. If the orbit radius is increased to $4r$, the new orbital speed of the satellite will be:

   1. A.A
   2. B.B
   3. C.C
   4. D.D
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-97B2BD

   A planet revolves in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. If $v_1$ and $v_2$ are the speeds of the planet at perihelion (closest distance $r_1$) and aphelion (farthest distance $r_2$) respectively, the ratio $v_1/v_2$ is equal to:

   1. A.A
   2. B.B
   3. C.C
   4. D.D
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-40EC98

   Two heavy spheres of masses $m_1$ and $m_2$ are kept at a fixed distance apart. A third particle of mass $m$ is placed at a point where the net gravitational force on it from the two spheres is zero. The distance of this point from mass $m_1$ is:

   1. A.A
   2. B.B
   3. C.C
   4. D.D
   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-84ECD3

   What is the binding energy of a satellite of mass $m$ revolving in a circular orbit of radius $r$ around the Earth of mass $M$?

   1. A.A
   2. B.B
   3. C.C
   4. D.D
   See the answer and solution