161.
In older times, people used to think that the earth was flat. Imagine that the earth is indeed not a sphere of radius $$R,$$ but an infinite plate of thickness $$H.$$ What value of $$H$$ is needed to allow the same gravitational acceleration to be experienced as on the surface of the actual earth? (Assume that the earth’s density is uniform and equal in the two models)
Gauss law for gravitation
$$\eqalign{
& \int {\vec g \cdot d\vec s = - {m_{{\text{in}}}} \cdot 4\pi G;g = \frac{{GM}}{{{R^2}}}} \cr
& 2 \times \frac{{GM}}{{{R^2}}} \times A = \frac{M}{{\frac{4}{3}\pi {R^3}}}\left( {h \times A} \right) \times 4\pi G \cr
& \Rightarrow h = \frac{{2R}}{3} \cr} $$
162.
With what minimum speed should $$m$$ be projected from point $$C$$ in presence of two fixed masses $$M$$ each at $$A$$ and $$B$$ as shown in the figure such that mass $$m$$ should escape the gravitational attraction of $$A$$ and $$B$$
According to Kepler's third law (or law of periods) the square of the time taken to complete the orbit (time period $$T$$) is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis $$\left( r \right)$$ of the elliptical orbit i.e. $${T^2} \propto {r^3}$$
Here, $${r_1} = {10^{13}}m,\,{r_2} = {10^{12}}m$$
$$\eqalign{
& \therefore \frac{{T_1^2}}{{T_2^2}} = \frac{{r_1^3}}{{r_2^3}} = \frac{{{{\left( {{{10}^{13}}} \right)}^3}}}{{{{\left( {{{10}^{12}}} \right)}^3}}} \cr
& {\text{or}}\,\,\frac{{T_1^2}}{{T_2^2}} = \frac{{{{10}^{39}}}}{{{{10}^{36}}}} = {10^3} \cr
& {\text{or}}\,\,\frac{{{T_1}}}{{{T_2}}} = 10\sqrt {10} \cr} $$
164.
Which one of the following plots represents the variation of gravitational field on a particle with distance $$r$$ due to a thin spherical shell of radius $$R$$ ? ($$r$$ is measured from the centre of the spherical shell)
The Gravitational field due to a thin spherical shell of radius $$R$$ at distance $$r.$$
$$E = \frac{{GM}}{{{r^2}}}\,\,\left( {{\text{If }}r > R} \right)$$
For $$r = R$$ i.e. on the surface of the shell
$$E = \frac{{GM}}{{{R^2}}}$$
For $$r < R$$ i.e. inside the shell $$E = 0$$
165.
Escape velocity from the earth is $$11.2\,km/s.$$ Another planet of same mass has radius $$\frac{1}{4}$$ times that of the earth. What is the escape velocity from another planet?
Compare the equation of escape velocity of earth and planet. Escape velocity is given by,
$${v_{es}} = \sqrt {\frac{{2G{M_e}}}{{{R_e}}}} $$
From a planet, $${{v'}_{es}} = \sqrt {\frac{{2G{M_p}}}{{{R_p}}}} $$
Therefore, $$\frac{{{{v'}_{es}}}}{{{v_{es}}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{2G{M_p}}}{{{R_p}}}} \times \sqrt {\frac{{{R_e}}}{{2G{M_e}}}} $$
It is given that,
mass of the planet = mass of the earth
i.e. $${M_p} = {M_e}$$
So, $$\frac{{{{v'}_{es}}}}{{{v_{es}}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{{R_e}}}{{{R_p}}}} \,......\left( {\text{i}} \right)$$
Given, $${R_p} = \frac{{{R_e}}}{4} \Rightarrow \frac{{{R_p}}}{{{R_e}}} = \frac{1}{4}\,\,{\text{and}}\,\,{v_{es{\text{ }}}} = 11.2\,km/s$$
Substituting in Eq. (i), we have
$$\frac{{{{v'}_{es}}}}{{11.2}} = \sqrt {\frac{4}{1}} = 2,{{v'}_{es}} = 11.2 \times 2 = 22.4\,km/s$$
166.
Assume that the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is $$0.2$$ times the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth. If $${R_e}$$ is the maximum range of a projectile on the earth's surface, what is the maximum range on the surface of the moon for the same velocity of projection
Range of projectile $$R = \frac{{{u^2}\sin 2\theta }}{g}$$
if $$u$$ and $$\theta $$ are constant then $$R \propto \frac{1}{g}$$
$$\eqalign{
& \frac{{{R_m}}}{{{R_e}}} = \frac{{{g_e}}}{{{g_m}}} \Rightarrow \frac{{{R_m}}}{{{R_e}}} = \frac{1}{{0.2}} \cr
& \Rightarrow {R_m} = \frac{{{R_e}}}{{0.2}} \Rightarrow {R_m} = 5{R_e} \cr} $$
167.
The largest and the shortest distance of the earth from the sun are $${r_1}$$ and $${r_2}.$$ Its distance from the sun when it is perpendicular to the major axis of the orbit drawn from the sun
From the property of ellipse, $$\frac{2}{R} = \frac{1}{{{r_1}}} + \frac{1}{{{r_2}}}$$
$$\eqalign{
& {\text{or}}\,\,\frac{2}{R} = \frac{{{r_1} + {r_2}}}{{{r_1}{r_2}}} \cr
& \Rightarrow R = \frac{{2{r_1}{r_2}}}{{{r_1} + {r_2}}} \cr} $$
168.
A satellite is revolving in a circular orbit at a height $$‘h'$$ from the earth's surface (radius of earth $$R;h < < R$$ ). The minimum increase in its orbital velocity required, so that the satellite could escape from the earth's gravitational field, is close to
: (Neglect the effect of atmosphere.)
For $$h < < R,$$ the orbital velocity is $$\sqrt {gR} $$
Escape velocity $$ = \sqrt {2gR} $$
$$\therefore $$ The minimum increase in its orbital velocity
$$ = \sqrt {2gR} - \sqrt {gR} = \sqrt {gR} \left( {\sqrt 2 - 1} \right)$$
169.
In a certain region of space, gravitational field is given by $$I = - \left( {\frac{K}{r}} \right).$$ Taking the reference point to be at $$r = {r_0}$$ with $$V = {V_0},$$ find the potential.