Physics
Gravitation and Center of Mass
368 Questions
Gravitation and center of mass questions explore gravitational fields, planetary density, and the mechanics of celestial bodies. Test items include calculating gravitational strength on different planets and understanding the Roche Limit. This topic is essential for the physics syllabus of major competitive exams.
Gravitational fieldCenter of massPlanetary densityHill SphereSpace-time curvature
Gravitation and Center of Mass Questions
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Equator
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Seashore
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Poles
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None
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning its poles are closer to the center than the equator. Since gravitational force depends on distance from Earth's center (F = GMm/r^2), the force is strongest where the distance is smallest - at the poles. At the equator, you're about 21 km farther from Earth's center.
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Attraction of moon is less as compared to earth
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Attraction of moon is greater as compared to earth
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Attraction of moon is same as compared to earth
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None of these
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The gravitational acceleration (g) on the Moon is about one-sixth of Earth's g because the Moon has much less mass than Earth. Gravitational force depends on the mass of the celestial body, so the Moon's weaker gravitational pull results in lower g value.
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Its weight increases
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Its mass increases
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Its mass decreases
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Its weight decreases & its mass remains constant
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Mass is an intrinsic property that doesn't change with location. Weight depends on gravitational force, which is much weaker on the Moon (about 1/6th of Earth's gravity). So weight decreases significantly while mass remains constant.
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The planets revolve around the Sun in uniform motion due to presence of gravitational force.
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There is presence of atmosphere on the earth due to gravitational force.
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Tides in seas and oceans are due to gravitational force.
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It keeps the moon in orbit around the earth.
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None of these
E
Correct answer
Explanation
Yes, this is the correct answer as all the above statements are true. None of them is false regarding the gravitational force.
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It remains constant
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It increases in a denser medium
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It decreases in a denser medium
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It becomes zero in rarer medium
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It becomes zero in denser medium
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Yes, it is the correct answer. The value of gravitational constant is same for any pair of masses in the universe but the value of G does not depend on the nature or properties of the medium in which the masses are placed. So, that is why the value of G is constant everywhere in universe.
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Same
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Six times W
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1 / 6 times of W
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Zero
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Will depend on the material of the object
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Yes, it is the correct answer. Weight of an object on the moon = 1 / 6 of the weight of the object on earth.
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Same
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Less than M
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More than M
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Zero
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Will vary with the material it is made up of
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Yes, mass of an object remains constant everywhere, i.e. mass will remain same whether that object is at the moon, at the earth or anywhere in the universe.
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Snell's law
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Lenz's law
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Universal law of gravitation
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Faraday's law
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation states that every particle attracts every other particle with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This is a fundamental law of physics.
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Gravitation pull on the moon's surface is lower than that of the earth
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Moon has no atmosphere
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Moon has no medium
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None of these
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The gravitational pull on the Moon is about 1/6th of Earth's gravity. With weaker gravitational force, a person can jump much higher and further on the lunar surface. This is why astronauts appeared to bounce on the Moon.
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rotation of earth
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revolution of earth
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gravitational pull
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uneven heating of earth
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air molecules in the atmosphere. This weight exists because of Earth's gravitational pull, which attracts gas molecules toward the planet's surface, creating pressure that decreases with altitude.
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1/4 of the earth
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1/5 of the earth
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1/6 of the earth
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1/8 of the earth
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Moon's mass is approximately 1/6th that of Earth, which is why astronauts weigh much less on the lunar surface. This ratio also explains why the Moon's gravity is about 16.6% of Earth's. The other fractions (1/4, 1/5, 1/8) are incorrect.
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Earth's mass is approximately 81 times that of the Moon. This mass ratio is responsible for the Moon orbiting Earth rather than the other way around, as the more massive object exerts the stronger gravitational pull.
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1/8th of its weight on the earth
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1/7th of its weight on the earth
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1/6th of its weight on the earth
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<font face="Arial" size="2">1/5th of its weight on the earth</font>
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a only
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b only
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c only
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a and b
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b and c
A
Correct answer
Explanation
This is the correct answer.
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minimum at the poles
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constant in every place
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maximum at the equator
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maximum at the poles
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, bulging at the equator. The gravitational force (which determines weight) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from Earth's center. Since the poles are closer to the center than the equator, weight is maximum at the poles and minimum at the equator for the same mass.