Class 11 Physics — Chapter 7: GRAVITATION

What you'll learn

• ▸Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
• ▸Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation
• ▸The Gravitational Constant (G)
• ▸Acceleration due to Gravity (g)
• ▸Variation of 'g' with Altitude and Depth
• ▸Gravitational Potential Energy
• ▸Escape Speed
• ▸Earth Satellites and Orbital Speed
• ▸Energy of an Orbiting Satellite

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- CHAPTER SEVEN GRAVITATION 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Kepler's laws 7.3 Universal law of gravitation 7.4 The gravitational constant 7.5 Acceleration due to gravity of the earth 7.6 Acceleration due to gravity below and above the surface of earth 7.7 Gravitational potential energy 7.8 Escape speed 7.9 Earth satellites 7.10 Energy of an orbiting satellite Summary Points to ponder Exercises 7.1 INTRODUCTION Early in our lives, we become aware of the tendency of all material objects to be attracted towards the earth. Anything thrown up falls down towards the earth, going uphill is lot more tiring than going downhill, raindrops from the clouds above fall towards the earth and there are many other such phenomena. Historically it was the Italian Physicist Galileo (1564-1642) who recognised the fact that all bodies, irrespective of their masses, are accelerated towards the earth with a constant acceleration. It is said that he mad…

Practice Questions from this Chapter

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1. Explain how gravity affects tides simply. Get Solution →
2. Predict where Mars will be next year. Get Solution →
3. Describe different types of orbits. Get Solution →
4. Who proposed the 'geocentric' model, where celestial objects were thought to revolve around the Earth? Get Solution →
5. What is Kepler's First Law of planetary motion also known as? Get Solution →
6. According to Kepler's First Law, what is the shape of the orbits of all planets? Get Solution →
7. In a planet's elliptical orbit, where is the Sun located? Get Solution →
8. What is the name for the point in a planet's orbit that is farthest from the Sun? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 The Earth's gravity isn't perfectly uniform everywhere on its surface.
• 💡 If you could jump on a neutron star, its gravity would flatten you instantly.
• 💡 Ancient Babylonians tracked planetary positions over a thousand years ago.
• 💡 All planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in the same direction.
• 💡 Astronauts on the International Space Station are still affected by Earth's gravity.

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