Gravitation

1. Define mass. Give its SI unit.

Mass of a body is defined as the quantity of matter contained in the body. Its SI unit is
kilogram (kg).

2. Define weight. Give its SI unit.

The force with which a body is attracted by the earth is known as the weight of the body. Its SI
unit is newton (N).
Weight, 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔

3. Differentiate between mass and weight.

Mass
The quantity of matter contained in a body
is called the mass of the body.
Mass of a body remains constant.
Mass of a body is never zero.
Mass is a scalar quantity.
Mass is measured in kg.
Mass is measured by a beam balance.
Weight
The force with which the earth attracts a
body towards its centre is called the weight
of the body.
Weight of a body changes from place to
place.
Weight of a body at the centre of the earth is
zero.
Weight is a vector quantity.
Weight is measured in N.
Weight is measured by a weighing machine
or a spring balance.

4. Give the relation between weight of an object on the surface of earth and moon.
We know that
1
𝑔𝑚 = 𝑔𝑒
6
Also 𝑊𝑚 = 𝑚𝑔𝑚
1
= 𝑚 × × 𝑔𝑒
6
1
= × 𝑚𝑔𝑒
6
1
𝑊𝑚 = 𝑊𝑒
6

5. Gravitation force acts on all objects in proportion to their masses. Why, then a heavy object
does not fall faster than a light object?
The acceleration with which a body falls towards the earth is constant and independent of the
mass of the body. Thus, all bodies fall with the same acceleration irrespective of their masses.
That is why, a heavy body does not fall faster than the light body.

6. The earth and the moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the earth attract
the moon with a force that is greater or smaller or same as the force with which the moon
attracts the earth? Why?
Gravitational force with which a body A attracts another body B is equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction to the gravitational force with which a body B attracts body A. Thus the
magnitude of the force with which the earth attracts the moon is equal to magnitude of the
force with which the moon attracts the earth.
7. If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?
The acceleration produced in the earth due to the force exerted on it by the moon is very small
as the mass of the earth is very large. Hence, the movement of the earth towards the moon is
not noticed.

8. What happens to the force between two objects, if

(i) the mass of one object is doubled?
(ii) the distance between the objects is doubled and tripled?
(iii) the masses of both the objects are doubled?
𝑚 𝑚
We know that 𝐹 = 𝐺 𝑑1 2 2
(i) 𝐹 is doubled if the mass of one object is doubled.
1 1
(ii) 𝐹 becomes 4 the original value if the distance is doubled and 9 if the distance is tripled.
(iii) 𝐹 be comes 4 times the original value if the masses of both the objects are doubled.

9. Amit buys few grams of gold at the poles as per the 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?
Since the value of 𝑔 is greater at the poles than at the equator, the weight of gold at the poles
will be greater than the weight of gold at the equator. Hence, his friend will not agree with him.

10. Why will a sheet of paper fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball?
Since the area of a sheet of paper is more than the area of the crumpled paper, the sheet of
paper will experience a large opposing force due to air than the ball. Hence, the sheet of paper
will fall slower than one that is crumpled into a ball.

11. Define thrust. Give its SI unit.

The total force exerted by the body perpendicular to the surface is known as thrust. Its SI unit
is N.

12. Define pressure. Give its SI unit.

Thrust acting on unit area is called pressure.
OR
Pressure is defined as the force acting perpendicular on unit area of the surface.
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
−2
Its SI unit is pascal (Pa) [1𝑁𝑚 = 1𝑃𝑎]

13. Explain the following everyday observations on the basis of pressure.

i. Railways tracks are laid on large sized wooden or iron sleepers.
𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡
We know that 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
The weight of the train is spread over a large area of the sleepers. Therefore, the pressure
acting on the ground under the sleepers is reduced. This prevents the sinking of the
ground under the weight of the train.
 ii. A sharp knife is more effective in cutting the objects than a blunt knife.
𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡
We know that 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
The area under the sharp knife is less than the area under the blunt knife. Hence, pressure
exerted by the sharp knife is more than the pressure exerted by the blunt knife on an
object. Thus, a sharp knife is more effective in cutting the objects than a blunt knife.
iii. A camel walks easily on the sandy surface than a man in spite of the fact that a camel is
much heavier than a man.
This is because the area of the camel’s feet is large as compared to the area of the man’s
feet. So the pressure exerted by the camel on the sandy surface is very small as compared
to the pressure exerted by a man. Due to large pressure, sand under a man’s feet sinks
and he cannot walk easily whereas sand under the camel’s feet does not sink much due to
small pressure. Hence a camel can walk and run easily on a sandy surface.
iv. It is painful to hold a heavy bag having a strap made of a strong and thin string.
𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡
We know that 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
v. When we hold a heavy bag having a strap made of a strong and thin string, a large
pressure is exerted on our fingers or shoulder due to the small area under the strap.
Hence, it is painful to hold a heavy bag having a strap made of a strong and thin string.

14. What do you mean by buoyancy?

The tendency of an object to float in a liquid or the power of a liquid to make an object float
in it is called buoyancy. Buoyant force acts in the upward direction on an object immersed in
a liquid.

15. Why does an object float or sink when placed on the surface of water?
When an object is placed on the surface of water, two forces act on the object.
(i) the gravitational force in the downward direction and
(ii) the up thrust of the water on the object.
When the gravitational force acting on the object is greater than the up thrust of the water, the
object sinks in water. On the other hand, if the up thrust of water on the object is greater than
the gravitational force, then the object floats.
OR
If the density of an object is less than the density of water, it floats and if the density of an
object is greater than the density of water, it sinks.

16. State Archimedes’ principle.

When a body is immersed partially or completely in a fluid, it experiences an up thrust or
buoyant force which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.

17. Define relative density.

Relative density of a substance is defined as the ratio of the density of the substance to the
density of water.
Relative density has no unit.