CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8: In Chapter 8 of CBSE Class 11 Physics, called

"Gravitation," you'll learn about gravity, the force that pulls things towards each other. This
chapter talks about how gravity works, especially in space with planets, stars, and galaxies.
You'll understand how gravity affects the movement of planets around the Sun and other
celestial bodies. Also, you'll explore concepts like gravitational energy and how it relates to
gravity. Plus, you'll learn about Kepler's laws, which explain how planets move around the Sun.
Overall, this chapter helps you understand how gravity shapes the universe we live in.

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8 Gravitation PDF

The purpose of CBSE class 11 physics notes Chapter 8 Gravitation in a straight line is to
present comprehensive, easy-to-understand material on the subject, step by step. It provide
concise, easily legible notes to aid students in rapidly recalling the main ideas prior to the test.

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8 Gravitation PDF

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8 Gravitation

What is Gravitation?

Gravity is a fundamental force present in the universe, where every object attracts every other
object. It's part of the four types of interactions found in nature, including gravitational force,
electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear forces.

Despite being of negligible significance in interactions at the particle level, gravity plays a crucial
role in interactions among objects, essentially holding the universe together.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Newton's Law of Gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other
particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Important Points about Gravitation Force

(i) Gravitational force is a central as well as conservative force. It acts along the line joining the
centers of the two masses and conserves mechanical energy.

(ii) Despite being fundamental, gravitational force is the weakest force in nature. It is
significantly weaker than electrostatic force and nuclear force.
(iii) Gravitational force is remarkably weaker than other fundamental forces. It's about 10361036
times weaker than the electrostatic force and 10181018 times weaker than the nuclear force.

(iv) Newton's law of gravitation is applicable to all bodies regardless of their size, shape, or
position. It governs the gravitational interaction between any two objects with mass.

(v) The gravitational force between the Sun and a planet provides the centripetal force
necessary for the planet's orbital motion around the Sun.

(vi) The gravitational pull exerted by the Earth on objects near its surface is commonly referred
to as gravity.

(vii) Newton's third law of motion applies to the force of gravitation, stating that for every action,
there's an equal and opposite reaction. Thus, the gravitational forces between two bodies form
action-reaction pairs.

These points highlight some important aspects of gravitational force:

(i) Unlike electrostatic force, gravitational force is independent of the medium between the
particles.

(ii) Gravitational force is conservative, meaning it conserves mechanical energy.

(iii) While Newton's law of gravitation describes the force between point masses, for external
points of spherical bodies, the entire mass can be assumed to be concentrated at its center of
mass.

Acceleration Due to Gravity

The uniform acceleration experienced by a freely falling object due to the gravitational force of
the Earth is termed as acceleration due to gravity. Its unit is meters per second squared
(m/s2m/s2). Being a vector quantity, its direction points towards the center of the Earth.

Importantly, the value remains constant regardless of the mass of the object in free fall. Though
it may vary slightly from one location to another due to factors like altitude and local geology, for
practical purposes, it's commonly considered as 9.8 m/s29.8m/s2.

Comparatively, the acceleration due to gravity on celestial bodies differs significantly. For
instance, on the Moon, it's approximately one-sixth of that on Earth, while on the Sun, it's about
27 times greater than that on Earth. These variations values have significant implications for
understanding celestial mechanics and space exploration.

Factors Affecting Acceleration Due to Gravity

Several factors influence the acceleration due to gravity:

Altitude: As altitude increases, the distance from the Earth's center also increases.
Consequently, the gravitational force weakens slightly, causing a decrease in the acceleration
due to gravity.

Latitude: The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it bulges slightly at the equator due to its rotation.
Hence, gravity is slightly weaker at the equator compared to the poles. This variation is due to
differences in centrifugal force caused by Earth's rotation.

Depth: Gravity weakens as you move deeper underground. This is because the mass above
you exerts less gravitational force.

Mass of the Earth: While not changing significantly over short periods, any change in the mass
of the Earth would directly affect the acceleration due to gravity.

Local Geology: Variations in the density and distribution of materials within the Earth's crust
can cause local variations in gravitational acceleration.

Centrifugal Force: The Earth's rotation causes a centrifugal force that slightly reduces the
effective gravitational force at the equator compared to the poles.

Shape of the Earth: If the Earth were a perfect sphere, the acceleration due to gravity would be
uniform everywhere. However, its slightly oblate shape causes small deviations.

Gravitational Field

The gravitational field is a concept in physics that describes the influence of gravity on the
space surrounding a massive object. It represents the force exerted on a mass placed at any
point in space due to the presence of another mass.

In simpler terms, the gravitational field around an object is like an invisible force field that pulls
other objects towards it. The strength of the gravitational field at any point depends on the mass
of the object creating the field and the distance from that object.

Important Points

(i) When a missile is launched with a velocity lower than the escape velocity, the sum of its
kinetic energy and potential energy is negative. This indicates that the total mechanical energy
of the missile is less than zero, meaning it does not have enough energy to escape the
gravitational pull of the Earth.

(ii) Jupiter's orbital speed is lower than that of Earth. This is because Jupiter is much larger and
has a stronger gravitational pull, requiring less speed for its moons to maintain stable orbits
compared to the speed required by objects orbiting Earth.
(iii) If a bomb explodes on the Moon, the sound waves produced by the explosion cannot be
heard on Earth. This is because sound requires a medium, such as air, to travel through, and
the vacuum of space between the Moon and Earth prevents sound from propagating.

(iv) If a bottle filled with water at 30°C and sealed with a cork is taken to the Moon and the cork
is opened at the Moon's surface, the water will boil. This is because the boiling point of water
decreases with decreasing atmospheric pressure, and the Moon has virtually no atmosphere to
exert pressure on the water.

(v) Inertial mass and gravitational mass are equal to each other in magnitude:

(a) Inertial mass is determined by the ratio of force to acceleration.

(b) Gravitational mass is calculated by dividing the weight of an object by the acceleration due
to gravity.

(c) They remain equal to each other in magnitude.

(d) Gravitational mass is influenced by the presence of other nearby bodies, while inertial mass
remains unaffected by external factors.

Benefits of CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8

Gravitation
Here are some benefits of using CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 8 on Gravitation:

Comprehensive Coverage: The notes provide a detailed overview of the topic of gravitation,
covering key concepts, laws, and principles related to gravitational force.

Clear Explanations: Complex concepts are explained in a clear and concise manner, making it
easier for students to understand the principles of gravitation.

Example Problems: The notes often include example problems and solutions, allowing
students to practice applying the concepts learned and reinforcing their understanding.

Structured Format: The notes follow a structured format, making it easy for students to
organize their study materials and review specific topics as needed.