Q 1 :

Match List-I with List-II                                                              [2024]

  List - I   List - II
A Kinetic energy of planet (I) -GMm/a
B Gravitation Potential energy of sun planet system (II) GMm/2a
C Total mechanical energy of planet (III) GMm/r
D Escape energy at the surface of planet for unit mass object (IV) -GMm/2a

 

  • (A)-(I), (B)-(IV), (C)-(II), (D)-(III)

     

  • (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(IV), (D)-(III)

     

  • (A)-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)

     

  • (A)-(I), (B)-(II), (C)-(III), (D)-(IV)

     

(2)   

       Potential energy = -GMma

        Total energy = -GMm2a

        kinetic energy = GMmr

       Escape energy = GMmr

 



Q 2 :

To project a body of mass m from earth's surface to infinity, the required kinetic energy is (assume, the radius of earth is RE) g = acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth:              [2024]

  • mgRE

     

  • 1/2mgRE

     

  • 4mgRE

     

  • 2mgRE

     

(1)   

        Escape speed ve=2GMRE

        Escape kinetic energy Ke=12mve2

        Ke=12m(2GMRE)2=GMmRE

         Also, GM=gRE2Ke=(gRE2)mRE=mgRE

 



Q 3 :

An astronaut takes a ball of mass m from earth to space. He throws the ball into a circular orbit about earth at an altitude of 318.5 km. From earth's surface to the orbit, the change in total mechanical energy of the ball is xGMem21Re. The value of x is (take Re= 6370 km):                          [2024]

  • 11

     

  • 9

     

  • 12

     

  • 10

     

(1) 

        h=318.5(Re20)

        T·Ei=-GMemRe

        T·Ef=-GMem2(Re+h)=-GMem2(Re+Re20)

        Change in total mechanical energy = TEf-TEi

         =GMemRe[1-1021]=11GMem21Ren

 



Q 4 :

The gravitational potential at a point above the surface of earth is -5.12×107 J/kg and the acceleration due to gravity at that point is 6.4 m/s2.     

Assume that the mean radius of earth to be 6400 km. The height of this point above the earth's surface is:                      [2024]

  • 1600 km

     

  • 540 km

     

  • 1200 km

     

  • 1000 km

     

(1)  

      Vg=-GM(R+h)=-5.12×107 J/kg

       g=GM(R+h)2=6.4m/s2

       Vgg=-(R+h)

       -5.12×1076.4=-(R+h)

         6400 km + h = 8000 km

         h = 1600 km

 



Q 5 :

Escape velocity of a body from earth is 11.2 km/s. If the radius of a planet be one-third the radius of earth and mass be one-sixth that of earth, the escape velocity from the planet is                        [2024]

  • 11.2 km/s

     

  • 8.4 km/s

     

  • 4.2 km/s

     

  • 7.9 km/s

     

(4) 

       RP=RE3, MP=ME6

        Ve=2GMR for earth

         Ve'=2G(M/6)(R/3)=GMR for planet

        2Ve'=Ve

         Ve'=Ve2=11.22=(11.2)×0.7 km/sec

         Ve'=7.84 km/sec7.9km/sec

 



Q 6 :

The mass of the moon is 1/144 times the mass of a planet and its diameter 1/16 times the diameter of a planet. If the escape velocity on the planet is V, the escape velocity on the moon will be                 [2024]

  • V/3

     

  • V/4

     

  • V/12

     

  • V/6

     

(1) 

        Vescape=2GMR

         Vplanet=2GMR=V

          VMoon=2GM×16144R=132GMR

         VMoon=VPlanet3=V3

 



Q 7 :

A satellite of 103 kg mass is revolving in a circular orbit of radius 2R. If 104R6J energy is supplied to the satellite, it would revolve in a new circular orbit of radius: (use g = 10 m/s2, R = radius of Earth)         [2024]

  • 2.5 R

     

  • 3 R

     

  • 4 R

     

  • 6 R

     

(4)

Total energy=-GMm2(2R)

If energy =104R6 is added then,

-GMm4R+104R6=-GMm2r, where r is new radius of revolving

-mgR4+104R6=-mgR22r, As g=GMR2

-103×10×R4+104R6=-103×10×R22r

-14+16=-R2rr=6R



Q 8 :

Earth has mass 8 times and radius 2 times that of a planet. If the escape velocity from the earth is 11.2 km/s, the escape velocity in km/s from the planet will be :          [2025]

  • 11.2

     

  • 5.6

     

  • 2.8

     

  • 8.4

     

(2)

vescape=2GMR; Mearth=8Mplanet; Rearth=2Rplanet

vplanetvearth=MplanetMearth×RearthRplanet

vplanet=(11.2 km/s)18×2=5.6 km/s



Q 9 :

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R

Assertion A : The kinetic energy needed to project a body of mass m from earth surface to infinity is 12mgR, where R is the radius of earth.

Reason R : The maximum potential energy of a body is zero when it is projected to infinity from earth surface.

in the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below          [2025]

  • A is false but R is true

     

  • Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

     

  • A is true but R is false

     

  • Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

     

(1)

At , PE is zero, U = 0

12mv2GMmR=0

KE=GMR2·mR=mgR



Q 10 :

An object is kept at rest at a distance of 3R above the earth's surface where R is earth's radius. The minimum speed with which it must be projected so that it does not return to earth is: (Assume M = mass of earth, G = Universal gravitational constant)          [2025]

  • GM2R

     

  • GMR

     

  • 3GMR

     

  • 2GMR

     

(1)

KEi+PEi=KEg+PEg

12mv2GMm4R=0+0

v2=GMR12  v=GM2R



Q 11 :

Two particles of equal mass 'm' move in a circle of radius 'r' under the action of their mutual gravitational attraction. The speed of each particle will be     [2023]

  • GM2r

     

  • 4GMr

     

  • GMr

     

  • GM4r

     

(4)

Gm24r2=mv2rv=Gm4r



Q 12 :

A body of mass m is taken from Earth’s surface to the height h equal to twice the radius of Earth (Re), the increase in potential energy will be: (g = acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Earth)            [2023]

  • 12mgRe

     

  • 3mgRe

     

  • 23mgRe

     

  • 13mgRe

     

(3)

U=-GMemr and Ui=-GMemRe

Uf=-GMem(Re+h)=-GMemRe+2Re=-GMem3Re

Increase in internal energy ΔU=Uf-Ui

       =23GMemRe

=23GMeRe2mRe=23mgRe



Q 13 :

If the gravitational field in space is given as (-Kr2) Taking the reference point to be at r=2 cm with gravitational potential V=10 J/kg, find the gravitational potential at r = 3 cm in SI unit. (Given that K = 6 J cm/kg)                   [2023]

  • 9

     

  • 11

     

  • 12

     

  • 10

     

(2)

-dVdr=-kr2  10VdV=23kr2dr

V-10=k[12-13]

V-10=k6  V=11 volts



Q 14 :

An object is allowed to fall from a height R above the Earth, where R is the radius of the Earth. Its velocity when it strikes the Earth's surface, ignoring air resistance, will be          [2023]

  • 2gR

     

  • gR

     

  • gR2

     

  • 2gR

     

(2)

Loss in PE = Gain in KE

(-GMm2R)-(-GMmR)=12mv2

v2=GMR=gR

v=gR



Q 15 :

If Earth has a mass nine times and radius twice to that of a planet P. Then ve3x ms-1 will be the minimum velocity required by a rocket to pull out of gravitational force of P, where ve is escape velocity on Earth. The value of x is                      [2023]

  • 2

     

  • 3

     

  • 18

     

  • 1

     

(1)

v(escape)planet=2GMpRp

                        =2G(Me9)(Re2)=ve23

  x=2



Q 16 :

The escape velocities of two planets A and B are in the ratio 1 : 2. If the ratio of their radii respectively is 1 : 3, then the ratio of acceleration due to gravity of planet A to the acceleration of gravity of planet B will be          [2023]

  • 43

     

  • 32

     

  • 23

     

  • 34

     

(4)

 



Q 17 :

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.            [2023]

Assertion A: Earth has atmosphere whereas moon doesn’t have any atmosphere.

Reason R: The escape velocity on moon is very small as compared to that on earth.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  • A is true but R is false

     

  • Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

     

  • Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

     

  • A is false but R is true

     

(3)

At Moon, due to low escape velocity, the rms velocity of molecules is greater than escape velocity. Hence molecules escape and there is no atmosphere at Moon.



Q 18 :

If V is the gravitational potential due to a sphere of uniform density on its surface, then its value at the center of the sphere will be               [2023]

  • 3V2

     

  • V

     

  • 43V

     

  • V2

     

(1)

V=GM2R3(3R2-r2) at r=RV=(GMR)

At r=0,V0=3GM2R=(3V2)



Q 19 :

A spaceship of mass 2×104 kg is launched into a circular orbit close to the Earth’s surface. The additional velocity to be imparted to the spaceship in the orbit to overcome the gravitational pull will be (if g=10 m/s2 and radius of Earth = 6400 km)                  [2023]

  • 11.2(2-1) km/s

     

  • 7.9(2-1) km/s

     

  • 8(2-1) km/s

     

  • 7.4(2-1) km/s

     

(3)

vorbit=GMR=gR

vescape=2GMR=2gR

Δv=(2-1)gR=8(2-1) km/s



Q 20 :

The ratio of escape velocity of a planet to the escape velocity of Earth will be:

Given: Mass of the planet is 16 times the mass of Earth and radius of the planet is 4 times the radius of Earth.          [2023]

  • 4 : 1

     

  • 2 : 1

     

  • 1 : 2

     

  • 1 : 4

     

(2)

vescape=2GMR

 vescape for planet =2G(16ME)4RE=22GMERE

                                         =2(vescape for Earth)



Q 21 :

A planet having mass 9Me and radius 4Re, where Me and Re are mass and radius of Earth respectively, has escape velocity in km/s given by: (Given escape velocity on Earth Ve=11.2×103 m/s)                        [2023]

  • 67.2

     

  • 16.8

     

  • 33.6

     

  • 11.2

     

(2)

VP=2GMPRP, VE=2GMERE

VPVE=2GMPRP2GMERE=RERP×MPME

VP=14×9×VE=32VE

VP=32×11.2 km/sec=16.8 km/sec



Q 22 :

Given below are two statements:                               [2023]

Statement I: For a planet, if the ratio of mass of the planet to its radius increases, the escape velocity from the planet also increases.

Statement II: Escape velocity is independent of the radius of the planet.

In the light of above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

  • Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect

     

  • Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

     

  • Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

     

  • Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

     

(2)

Ve=2GMRVeMR

As MR increases Ve increases

Statement (1) is correct

Also, Ve1R

As Ve depends upon R 

 Statement (2) is incorrect



Q 23 :

A body is released from a height equal to the radius (R) of the Earth. The velocity of the body when it strikes the surface of the Earth will be (Given g = acceleration due to gravity on the Earth.)                    [2023]

  • gR

     

  • 4gR

     

  • 2gR

     

  • gR2

     

(1)

By conservation of mechanical energy

Ui+Ki=Uf+Kf

         -GMm2R+0=-GMmR+12mv2

GMm2R=12mv2

v=GMR=gR



Q 24 :

Three masses 200 kg, 300 kg and 400 kg are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with side 20 m. They are rearranged on the vertices of a bigger triangle of side 25 m and with the same centre. The work done in this process is __________ J.  

(Gravitational constant G=6.7×10-11 N m2/kg2)                                   [2026]

  • 2.85×10-7

     

  • 1.74×10-7

     

  • 9.86×10-6

     

  • 4.77×10-7

     

(2)

Work done by external agent:

Wext=ΔU

Ui=-Gm1m2ri-Gm2m3ri-Gm1m3ri : ri=20 m

Uf=-Gm1m2rf-Gm2m3rf-Gm1m3rf : rf=25 m

Ui=-6.67×10-1120[200×300+300×400+200×400]

    =-6.67×10-1120×26×104=-86.71×10-8 J

Uf=-6.67×10-1125[200×300+300×400+200×400]

=-6.67×10-1125×26×104=-693.68×10-9

=-69.36×10-8 J

ΔU=Uf-Ui=1.74×10-7 J



Q 25 :

The escape velocity from a spherical planet A is 10 km/s. The escape velocity from another planet B whose density and radius are 10% of those of planet A, is ____ m/s.     [2026]
 

  • 2005

     

  • 1000

     

  • 10010

     

  • 10002

     

(3)

Ve=2GMR=2G×ρ×4πR33RVeρ×R

(Ve)B(Ve)A=ρBρA×RBRA=0.1ρAρA×(0.1RARA)

(Ve)B(Ve)A=110×110

(Ve)B=10×10001010=10010 m/sec