Skip to main content
Chapter 15 of 29
Flashcards

Gravitation

Kerala Board · Class 12 · Physics

Flashcards for Gravitation — Kerala Board Class 12 Physics. Quick Q&A cards covering key concepts, definitions, and formulas.

44 questions20 flashcards5 concepts
20 Flashcards
Card 1Law of Gravitation

State Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation and write its mathematical expression.

Answer

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation states: 'Every body in the universe attracts every other body with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportiona

Card 2Gravitational Constant

What is the value and unit of the Universal Gravitational Constant G? Who first determined it experimentally?

Answer

Value of G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²kg⁻² Unit: Nm²kg⁻² or m³kg⁻¹s⁻² The universal gravitational constant G was first determined experimentally by Henry Cavendish in 1798 using a torsion balance. The experim

Card 3Gravitational Field

Define gravitational field strength and derive its expression for a point mass M.

Answer

Gravitational field strength (E) at a point is defined as the gravitational force per unit mass experienced by a test mass placed at that point. Derivation: If a test mass m experiences force F = GmM

Card 4Gravitational Potential Energy

Derive the expression for gravitational potential energy of a mass m at distance r from mass M.

Answer

Gravitational potential energy is the work done in bringing a mass from infinity to that point. U = -∫[∞ to r] F·dr = -∫[∞ to r] (GmM/r²)dr U = GmM∫[∞ to r] (1/r²)dr = GmM[-1/r][∞ to r] U = GmM[0 - (

Card 5Acceleration due to Gravity

Derive the expression for acceleration due to gravity (g) on Earth's surface.

Answer

Consider a body of mass m on Earth's surface experiencing gravitational force. From Newton's law: F = GmM/R² (where M = Earth's mass, R = Earth's radius) From Newton's 2nd law: F = mg Equating: mg =

Card 6Variation of g

How does acceleration due to gravity vary with height above Earth's surface? Derive the formula.

Answer

At height h above Earth's surface: g_h = GM/(R+h)² where R is Earth's radius For small heights (h << R): g_h = GM/R² × 1/(1+h/R)² g_h = g × (1+h/R)⁻² Using binomial approximation: g_h ≈ g(1-2h/R) Th

Card 7Variation of g

A body weighs 500 N on Earth's surface. Calculate its weight at a height of 3200 km above Earth's surface. (Take R = 6400 km)

Answer

Given: Weight on surface W = 500 N, h = 3200 km, R = 6400 km Using: g_h = g(R²)/(R+h)² Weight at height h: W_h = W × (R²)/(R+h)² W_h = 500 × (6400)²/(6400+3200)² W_h = 500 × (6400)²/(9600)² W_h = 50

Card 8Variation of g

How does acceleration due to gravity vary with depth inside Earth? Derive the expression.

Answer

At depth d below Earth's surface, only the sphere of radius (R-d) contributes to gravitational force. Mass of inner sphere: M' = (4/3)π(R-d)³ρ where ρ is Earth's density g_d = GM'/(R-d)² = G(4/3)π(R

+12 more flashcards available

Practice All

Get detailed flashcards for Gravitation

Super Tutor gives you interactive content for every chapter of Kerala Board Class 12 Physics — summaries, quizzes, flashcards, and more.

Try Super Tutor — It's Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Gravitation for Kerala Board Class 12 Physics?

Gravitation covers several key topics that are frequently asked in Kerala Board Class 12 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.

Start by understanding all key concepts. Practise previous year questions from this chapter. Revise formulas and definitions regularly. Use flashcards for quick revision before the exam.

There are 20 flashcards for Gravitation covering key definitions, formulas, and concepts. Use them daily for 10–15 minutes for best results.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.