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NDA Gravitation — practice questions

Explore 31 free Gravitation questions in NDA Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Gravitation questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–30 of 31.

Newton's universal law of gravitation gives the force between two masses m₁ and m₂ separated by distance r asRead the answer and worked solution →The gravitational constant G in SI units is approximatelyRead the answer and worked solution →The acceleration due to gravity g at height h above Earth's surface (radius R) is approximatelyRead the answer and worked solution →Kepler's third law of planetary motion states that the square of the orbital period T is proportional toRead the answer and worked solution →The value of g on the Moon's surface compared with Earth's g is aboutRead the answer and worked solution →The escape velocity from Earth's surface is approximatelyRead the answer and worked solution →An orbiting satellite has an orbital speed v = √(G M / r). If the orbital radius r is quadrupled, the new speed isRead the answer and worked solution →The gravitational potential energy of two point masses m₁ and m₂ separated by distance r is (taking U = 0 at infinity)Read the answer and worked solution →A geostationary satellite orbits Earth at a height where its period equalsRead the answer and worked solution →The variation of g with depth d below Earth's surface (assuming uniform density) isRead the answer and worked solution →For a body in a circular orbit around Earth of radius r, the ratio of kinetic energy to total mechanical energy isRead the answer and worked solution →Conserved, or not conserved?Read the answer and worked solution →True or false: conservation under gravityRead the answer and worked solution →Complete the weightlessness explanationRead the answer and worked solution →True or false: weightlessnessRead the answer and worked solution →Kepler's third lawRead the answer and worked solution →Assertion and reasonRead the answer and worked solution →Two are true, one is notRead the answer and worked solution →Three of these are wrong. Find the one that holds.Read the answer and worked solution →Tap every quantity conserved for orbital motionRead the answer and worked solution →Flip and pair: law with what it saysRead the answer and worked solution →Spot the one that does not belongRead the answer and worked solution →Order the reasoning: why an astronaut floatsRead the answer and worked solution →True or false: Kepler's lawsRead the answer and worked solution →Which law is being described?Read the answer and worked solution →Orbits and satellitesRead the answer and worked solution →Tap every true statement about orbital motionRead the answer and worked solution →Complete Kepler's third lawRead the answer and worked solution →Spot the one that does not belongRead the answer and worked solution →Flip and pair: statement with its subjectRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Newton's universal law of gravitation gives the force between two masses m₁ and m₂ separated by distance r as

  1. F = G m₁ m₂ / r²
  2. F = G m₁ m₂ / r
  3. F = G m₁ m₂ × r
  4. F = G m₁ m₂ × r²
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Correct answer: A. F = G m₁ m₂ / r²

1. Every particle attracts every other with a gravitational force. 2. F = G m₁ m₂ / r² where G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻². 3. Force acts along the line joining the two particles, attractive only. 4. Inverse square in distance — same functional form as Coulomb's electric force. _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 7 "Gravitation", §7.2_

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The gravitational constant G in SI units is approximately

  1. 9.81 m / s²
  2. 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² / kg²
  3. 3.14 × 10⁸ m / s
  4. 9 × 10⁹ N m² / C²
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: B. 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² / kg²

1. G is the universal gravitational constant. 2. Its numerical value is 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻². 3. This is different from g (acceleration due to gravity), which varies with location. 4. 9 × 10⁹ N m² C⁻² is Coulomb's constant, not G. _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 7 "Gravitation", §7.2_

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The acceleration due to gravity g at height h above Earth's surface (radius R) is approximately

  1. g × (R + h)
  2. g × (1 + 2h/R)
  3. g × (1 − 2h/R)
  4. g × (R − h)
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Correct answer: C. g × (1 − 2h/R)

1. g_h = g × R² / (R + h)². 2. For h ≪ R, expand: (1 + h/R)⁻² ≈ 1 − 2h/R. 3. So g_h ≈ g × (1 − 2h/R) to first order. 4. This is the fractional decrease in g as we rise above Earth's surface. _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 7 "Gravitation", §7.4_

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