Skip to main content
Chapter 5 of 14
Revision Notes

Gravitation

Maharashtra Board · Class 11 · Physics

Quick revision notes for Gravitation — Maharashtra Board Class 11 Physics. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.

45 questions24 flashcards5 concepts

Key Topics to Revise

1

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

  • Law of Orbits: All planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus
  • Law of Areas: The line joining planet and Sun sweeps equal areas in equal time intervals
  • Law of Periods: Square of time period is proportional to cube of semi-major axis (T² ∝ r³)
2

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation

  • Every particle attracts every other particle with force proportional to product of masses and inversely proportional to square of distance
  • Gravitational force is always attractive and acts along line joining centers
  • Force follows Newton's third law - equal and opposite force pairs
3

Acceleration Due to Gravity and Its Variations

  • Acceleration due to gravity g = GM/R² at Earth's surface
  • Value of g decreases with altitude: gₕ = g(1 - 2h/R) for h << R
  • Value of g decreases with depth: gₐ = g(1 - d/R)
4

Gravitational Potential Energy and Escape Velocity

  • Gravitational potential energy U = -GMm/r (taking U = 0 at r = ∞)
  • Near Earth's surface: ΔU = mgh for small heights h << R
  • Gravitational potential V = -GM/r (potential energy per unit mass)

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

Three fundamental laws describing planetary motionEvery particle attracts every other particleg = GM/r² gives accelerationU =vₑ = √(2GM/R) is minimum velocity

Get detailed revision notes for Gravitation

Super Tutor gives you interactive content for every chapter of Maharashtra Board Class 11 Physics — summaries, quizzes, flashcards, and more.

Try Super Tutor — It's Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Gravitation for Maharashtra Board Class 11 Physics?

Gravitation covers several key topics that are frequently asked in Maharashtra Board Class 11 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.

Sources & Official References

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