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 objects are doubled?
(i) the mass of one object is doubled?
(ii) the distance between the objects is doubled and tripled?
(iii) the masses of both objects are doubled?
Solution and Explanation
According to the universal law of gravitation, the force of gravitation between two objects is given by
\(πΉ \,=\, \frac{πΊππ}{π^2}\)
(i) F is directly proportional to the masses of the objects. If the mass of one object is doubled, then the gravitational force will also get doubled.
(ii) F is inversely proportional to the square of the distances between the objects. If the distance is doubled, then the gravitational force becomes one-fourth of its original value.
Similarly, if the distance is tripled, then the gravitational force becomes one-ninth of its original value.
(iii) F is directly proportional to the product of masses of the objects. If the masses of both the objects are doubled, then the gravitational force becomes four times the original value.
Top Questions on Gravitation
- Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R):
(A) A simple pendulum is taken to a planet of mass and radius, 4 times and 2 times, respectively, than the Earth. The time period of the pendulum remains same on earth and the planet.
(R) The mass of the pendulum remains unchanged at Earth and the other planet.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:- JEE Main - 2025
- Physics
- Gravitation
A small point of mass \(m\) is placed at a distance \(2R\) from the center \(O\) of a big uniform solid sphere of mass \(M\) and radius \(R\). The gravitational force on \(m\) due to \(M\) is \(F_1\). A spherical part of radius \(R/3\) is removed from the big sphere as shown in the figure, and the gravitational force on \(m\) due to the remaining part of \(M\) is found to be \(F_2\). The value of the ratio \( F_1 : F_2 \) is:
- JEE Main - 2025
- Physics
- Gravitation
- Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R): \begin{itemize} \item[(A)] A simple pendulum is taken to a planet of mass and radius, 4 times and 2 times, respectively, than the Earth. The time period of the pendulum remains same on earth and the planet. \item[(R)] The mass of the pendulum remains unchanged at Earth and the other planet. \end{itemize} In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- JEE Main - 2025
- Physics
- Gravitation
- Two satellites of masses \( m \) and \( 1.5m \) are revolving around the Earth with different speeds in two circular orbits of heights \( R_E \) and \( 2R_E \) respectively, where \( R_E \) is the radius of the Earth. The ratio of the minimum and maximum gravitational forces on the Earth due to the two satellites is
- AP EAMCET - 2024
- Physics
- Gravitation
- "The height from Earth's surface at which acceleration due to gravity becomes \( g/4 \), where \( g \) is acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Earth and \( R \) is the radius of Earth?"
- MHT CET - 2024
- Physics
- Gravitation
Questions Asked in CBSE Class IX exam
- Discuss what these phrases mean to you.
(i) a yellow wood
(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear
(iii) the passing there
(iv) leaves no step had trodden black
(v) how way leads on to way- CBSE Class IX
- The fun they had
- Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?
- CBSE Class IX
- My childhood
- Calculate how many years and months ahead from now Margieβs diary entry is.
- CBSE Class IX
- The fun they had
- A driver of a car travelling at \(52\) \(km \;h^{β1}\) applies the brakes Shade the area on the graph that represents the distance travelled by the car during the period. (b) Which part of the graph represents uniform motion of the car?
- CBSE Class IX
- Graphical Representation of Motion
- Complete the following chart:
- CBSE Class IX
- Plant Tissues