Assignment Sheet

Topic Gravitation
1.

Three uniform rods, each of mass M and length l are connected to form an equilateral
triangle in a gravity free space. Another small body of mass m is kept at the centriod. Find
the minimum velocity V to be given to mass m, so that it escapes the gravitational pull of
the triangle.

2.

There are two fixed heavy masses of magnitude of high density at a distance 2d apart. ON
the axis, a small mass m moves in a circle of radius R in the YZ plane between the heavy
masses. Find the velocity of the small particle.

3.

Two satellites of mass m1 and m 2 and m are revolving in the same orbit if radius r round
the earth (mass M ) in opposite sense. If they collide with each other inelasticaly, find the loss
in mechanical energy of the system.

4.

An artificial satellite (mass m) of a planet (mass M) revolves in a circular orbit whose radius
is n times the radius R of the planet. In the process of motion, the satellite to depend on
velocity, as F av 2 where a is a constant, calculate how long the satellite will stay in the
orbit before it falls onto the planets surface.

5.

If a planet were suddenly stopped in its orbit supposed to be circular. Show that it would fall
2
into the sun in a time T

, where T is the time period of 8 revolution.

8

6.

A satellite of mass M s is orbiting the earth in a circular orbit of radius R s it starts losing
energy slowly at a constant rate C due to collisions with dust particles. If M e and R e
denote the mass and radius of earth respectively, show that the satellite falls on the earth in a
GM e M s
time t given by t
2C
m

M
d

7.

With what speed V0 should a body be projected as shown in the figure. With respect to a
planet of mass M so that it would just be able to graze the planet and escape ? the radius of
the point is R.
M r
R
d

m
A

V0
D

0.75GM e
from the
Ke
surface of the earth. Neglecting air resistance, find the maximum height reached by the
missile from the surface of the earth. ( m e = mass of the earth and R e radius of the earth).

8.

A missile is launched at an angle of 60 to the vertical with a velocity

9.

Two bodies of masses m1 and m 2 are connected by a long inextensible cord of length L. The
combination is allowed to fall freely towards to the earth (mass m e ), the direction of the cord
being always radial as shown in the figure.
m1
O

m2
L

Earth

Find (a) the tension in the cord (b) the acceleration of m1 and m 2 . Does the cord every
become slack ?
10.

Distance between the centre of two stars is 10a. The masses of these stars are M & 16M and
their radii a and 2a respectively. A body of mass m is fired straight from the surface of
larger star towards the smaller star. What should e its minimum initial speed to reach the
surface of the smaller star ? obtain the expression in terms of G, M and a.

11.

Two mass particles m1 and m 2 move Lindes mutual gravitational force in circular orbits
about the centre of mass of the system. If the time period of revolution is T, find the
separation of the two particles.

12.

A solid sphere of mass M and radius R has a uniform density . Find the pressure at a
distance r from the centre due to mutual gravitational attraction between the particles of the
sphere.

13.

Two satellites of same mass are launched in the same orbit around the earth so that they rotate
opposite to each other. If they collide inelastically, obtain the total energy of the system
before and just after the collision. Describe the subsequent motion of the wreckage.

14.

A uniform sphere has a mass M and radius R. Find the gravitational pressure p inside the
sphere, as function of the distance from its centre.

15.

What is the gravitational potential energy of a particle of mass m kept at a distance x from
the centre of a disc of mass M on its axis ? The radius of the disc is R.

16.

Space junk of mass m leaves its orbit and heads towards an annular disc-shaped meter or at
rest relative to earth long it axis at a distance 8R with a velocity V. The surface mass density
of the meter is and its inner and outer radii and R and 4R. Find the velocity with which
the junk passes the centre of the meter or (thickness of meter is negligible)

17.

A chord of length 64 m is used to connect a 100 kg astronaut to a space ship whose mass is
much larger than that of the astronaut. Estimate the value of the tension in the chord. Assume
that the spaceship and the astronaut fall on a straight line from the earth centre. The radius of
the earth is 6400 km. Assume that the spaceship is orbiting near earth surface.

18.

Two satellites A and B of equal mass, move in the equilatorial plane of earth close to the
earths surface. Satellite A moves in the same direction as that of the rotation of earth while
satellite B moves in the opposite direction. Determine the ratio of the kinetic energy of B to
that of A in the reference frame field to earth.

ANSWER KEY

Assignment Sheet
Topic Gravitation
1.

12GM L l 2 4a 2
V
ln

i
2a

3.

5.

1/2

2GMR

2.

2Gm1m 2
(m1 m 2 )r

4.

2Gm1m 2
(m1 m 2 )r

6.

1
1

R e R s

8.

0.238 R e

1/ R 1/
2GM

7.

V0

9.

Tension in the cord =

D2 d 2

d / R 1
2

Gm e m1m 2
m1 m 2

h R

1/2

2
2
R d

3/2

n 1 m
a gR

h R

Acceleration a1 a 2

GM e
m1 m 2

m1

h R

m2

h R

towards the centre of the earth. The cord will always be in tension.
10.
12.

3 5GM
2
a

11.

GM R 2 r 2

13.

2R 3

14.

2
2
3 1 r / R 2
p G
M
8
R 4

16.

V 4G 3 5 4 13 R V 2

18.

Te 86400sec

15.

17.

G m1 m 2

42

1/3

GM(2m)
r
GMm
Energy before collision =
r
2GMm
v
R2 x2 x

R2
Energy after collision =

3 102 N