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7. GRAVITATION

Gravitation explains the attractive force between masses, a crucial concept in understanding celestial mechanics and planetary motion. The chapter discusses the historical development of gravitational theory from Galileo to Newton, including Kepler's laws of planetary motion and the universal law of gravitation. Essential properties like gravitational potential energy, escape velocity, and orbital mechanics of satellites are also covered.

Sections

  • 7

    Gravitation

    This section explores the principles of gravitation, including laws governing planetary motion, gravitational forces, and escape velocity.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.1

    Introduction

    This section introduces the concept of gravitation, highlighting early observations and contributions from key figures such as Galileo, Ptolemy, and Copernicus.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2

    Kepler’s Laws

    Kepler's Laws describe the motion of planets in our solar system, establishing that planetary orbits are elliptical, areas are swept out uniformly, and the orbital period relates to the semi-major axis.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.3

    Universal Law Of Gravitation

    The Universal Law of Gravitation explains the gravitational attraction between two masses and forms the foundation for understanding orbits in celestial mechanics.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.4

    The Gravitational Constant

    The gravitational constant (G) quantifies the strength of gravitational forces among masses and was first measured by Henry Cavendish in 1798.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.5

    Acceleration Due To Gravity Of The Earth

    This section details how the acceleration due to gravity is determined by the Earth's mass and radius, both on the surface and at varying heights or depths.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.6

    Acceleration Due To Gravity Below And Above The Surface Of Earth

    This section discusses how acceleration due to gravity changes with height above and depth below the Earth's surface.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.7

    Gravitational Potential Energy

    Gravitational potential energy relates to the work done against gravitational forces when moving a mass within a gravitational field.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.8

    Escape Speed

    Escape speed is the minimum velocity an object must reach to break free from the gravitational pull of a celestial body without any additional propulsion.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.9

    Earth Satellites

    Earth satellites are objects that revolve around the Earth, following orbits similar to those of planets around the Sun, which can be analyzed using Kepler’s laws of motion.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.10

    Energy Of An Orbiting Satellite

    This section explains the kinetic and potential energy of a satellite in orbit around Earth, illustrating the relationship between these forms of energy.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.11

    Summary

    This section outlines Newton's law of universal gravitation, Kepler's laws of planetary motion, and concepts related to gravitational forces and energy.

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  • 7.12

    Points To Ponder

    The section discusses key principles related to gravitation, focusing on conservation laws and gravitational potential energy.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.13

    Exercises

    In this section, a variety of exercises are provided to reinforce the concepts presented in the chapter on gravitation.

    Learning Practice

References

NCERT Study Material

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • Newton's law of universal g...
  • Kepler's laws describe the ...
  • The acceleration due to ear...

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