NCERT Solution: Gravitation
For two objects of masses m1and m2 and the distance between them r, the force (F) of attraction acting between them is given by the universal law of gravitation as:
Gravity of earth attracts every object towards its center. When an object is dropped from a certain height , it begins to fall towards Earth’s surface under the influence of gravitational force. Such a motion of object is called free fall.
When an object falls freely towards the surface of earth from a certain height, then its velocity changes. This change in velocity produces acceleration in the object which is known as acceleration due to gravity denoted bu letter g . The value of acceleration due to gravity is g= 9.8 m/s2.
Mass | Weight |
Mass is the quantity of matter contained in the body. | Weight is the force of gravity acting on the body. |
It is the measure of inertia of the body. | It is the measure of gravity |
Mass is a constant quantity. | Weight is not a constant quantity. It is different at different places. |
It only has magnitude. | It has magnitude as well as direction. |
Its SI unit is kilogram (kg) | Its SI unit is the same as the SI unit of force, i.e., Newton (N) |
The mass of moon is 1/100 times and its radius 1/4 times that of earth. As a result, the gravitional attraction on the moon is about one sixth when compared to earth. Hence, the the weight of an object on the moon 1/6th its weight on the earth.
It is difficult to hold a school bag having a thin strap because the pressure on the shoulders is quite large. This is because the pressure is inversely proportional to the surface area on which the force acts. The smaller is the surface area; the larger will be the pressure on the surface. In the case of a thin strap, the contact surface area is very small. Hence, the pressure exerted on the shoulder is very large.
The upward force exerted by a liquid on an object that is immersed in it is known as buoyancy.