This chapter on Gravitation for CBSE Class 11 Physics introduces the fundamental concept of gravitational force as an attraction between any two objects in the universe. It details Newton's Law of Gravitation, explaining the force's dependence on masses and distance, and introduces the gravitational constant G. The notes highlight key properties of gravitational force, such as its central and conservative nature, and its weakness compared to other fundamental forces. It also defines acceleration due to gravity (g), its relation to G, and how its value varies with altitude and depth. The chapter further explores gravitational fields, potential, and potential energy. Finally, it discusses satellites, including their orbital velocity, time period, and the distinction between geostationary and polar satellites. These notes are designed to aid students in understanding and revising the core concepts of gravitation for their exams.
Last optimized 10 Aug 2026
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Every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force which is called the force of gravitation.
Gravitation is one of the four classes of interactions found in nature.
These are
(i) the gravitational force
(ii) the electromagnetic force
(iii) the strong nuclear force (also called the hadronic force).
(iv) the weak nuclear forces.
Although, of negligible importance in the interactions of elementary particles, gravity is of primary importance in the interactions of objects. It is gravity that holds the universe together.
Gravitational force is a attractive force between two masses m1 and m2 separated by a distance r.
The value of G is 6.67 X 10-11 Nm2 kg-2 and is same throughout the universe.
The value of G is independent of the nature and size of the bodies well as the nature of the medium between them.
Dimensional formula of Gis [M-1L3].
(i) Gravitational force is a central as well as conservative force.
(ii) It is the weakest force in nature.
(iii) It is 1036 times smaller than electrostatic force and 10’l8times smaller than nuclear force.
(iv) The law of gravitational is applicable for all bodies, irrespective of their size, shape and
position.
(v) Gravitational force acting between sun and planet provide it centripetal force for orbital
motion.
(vi) Gravitational pull of the earth is called gravity.
(vii) Newton’s third law of motion holds good for the force of gravitation.
It means the
gravitation forces between two bodies are action-reaction pairs.
Following three points are important regarding the gravitational force
(i) Unlike the electrostatic force, it is independent of the medium between the particles.
(ii) It is conservative in nature.
(iii) It expresses the force between two point masses (of negligible volume).
However, for
external points of spherical bodies the whole mass can be assumed to be concentrated at its
centre of mass.
Note Newton’s law of gravitation holde goods for object lying at uery large distances and also at very short distances. It fails when the distance between the objects is less than 10-9 m i.e., of the order of intermolecular distances.
The uniform acceleration produced in a freely falling object due to the gravitational pull of the earth is known as acceleration due to gravity.
It is denoted by g and its unit is m/s2. It is a vector quantity and its direction is towards the centre of the earth.
The value of g is independent of the mass of the object which is falling freely under gravity.
The value of g changes slightly from place to place. The value of g is taken to be 9.8 m/s2 for all practical purposes.
The value of acceleration due to gravity on the moon is about. one sixth of that On the earth and on the sun is about 27 times of that on the earth.
Among the planets, the acceleration due to gravity is minimum on the mercury.
Relation between g and a is given by
g = Gm / R2
where M = mass of the earth = 6.0 * 1024 kg and R = radius of the earth = 6.38 * 106 m.
Acceleration due to gravity at a height h above the surface of the earth is given by
gh = Gm / (R+h)2 = g (1 – 2h / R)
Factors Affecting Acceleration Due to Gravity
(i) Shape of Earth Acceleration due to gravity g &infi; 1 / R2 Earth is elliptical in shape.
Its diameter at poles is approximately 42 km less than its diameter at equator.
Therefore, g is minimum at equator and maximum at poles.
(ii) Rotation of Earth about Its Own Axis If ? is the angular velocity of rotation of earth
about its own axis, then acceleration due to gravity at a place having latitude ? is given by
g’ = g – R?2 cos2 ?
At poles ? = 90° and g’ = g
Therefore, there is no effect of rotation of earth about its own axis at poles.
At equator ? = 0° and g’ = g – R?2
The value of g is minimum at equator
If earth stapes its rotation about its own axis, then g will remain unchanged at poles but
increases by R?2at equator.
(iii) Effect of Altitude The value of g at height h from earth’s surface
g’ = g / (1 + h / R)2
Therefore g decreases with altitude.
(iv) Effect of Depth The value of gat depth h A from earth’s surface
g’ = g * (1 – h / R)
Therefore g decreases with depth from earth’s surface.
The value of g becomes zero at earth’s centre.
The space in the surrounding of any body in which its gravitational pull can be experienced by other bodies is called gravitational field.
The gravitational force acting per unit mass at Earth any point in gravitational field is called intensity of gravitational field at that point.
It is denoted by Eg or I.
Eg or I = F / m
Intensity of gravitational field at a distance r from a body of mass M is given by
Eg or I = GM / r2
It is a vector quantity and its direction is towards the centre of gravity of the body.
Its S1 unit is N/m and its dimensional formula is [LT-2].
Gravitational mass Mg is defined by Newton’s law of gravitation.
Mg = Fg / g = W / g = Weight of body / Acceleration due to gravity
? (M1)g / (M2)g = Fg1g2 / Fg2g1
Gravitational Potential
Gravitational potential at any point in gravitational field is equal the work done per unit mass in bringing a very light body from infinity to that point.
It is denoted by Vg.
Gravitational potential, Vg = W / m = – GM / r
Its SI unit is J / kg and it is a scalar quantity. Its dimensional formula is [L3r-2].
Since work W is obtained, that is, it is negative, the gravitational potential is always negative.
Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy of any object at any point in gravitational field is equal to the work done in bringing it from infinity to that point. It is denoted by U.
Gravitational potential energy U = – GMm / r
The negative sign shows that the gravitational potential energy decreases with increase in distance.
Gravitational potential energy at height h from surface of earth
Uh = – GMm / R + h = mgR / 1 + h/R
A heavenly object which revolves around a planet is called a satellite. Natural satellites are those heavenly objects which are not man made and revolve around the earth. Artificial satellites are those neaven objects which are man made and launched for some purposes revolve around the earth.
T = 2? ?r3 / GM
= 2? ?(R + h)3 / g [ g = GM / R2
Near the earth surface, time period of the satellite
T = 2? ?R3 / GM = ?3? / Gp
T = 2? ?R / g = 5.08 * 103 s = 84 min.
where p is the average density of earth.
1. Geostationary or Parking Satellites
A satellite which appears to be at a fixed position at a definite height to an observer on earth is
called geostationary or parking satellite.
Height from earth’s surface = 36000 km
Radius of orbit = 42400 km
Time period = 24 h
Orbital velocity = 3.1 km/s
Angular velocity = 2? / 24 = ? / 12 rad / h
There satellites revolve around the earth in equatorial orbits.
The angular velocity of the satellite is same in magnitude and direction as that of angular
velocity of the earth about its own axis.
These satellites are used in communication purpose.
INSAT 2B and INSAT 2C are geostationary satellites of India.
2. Polar Satellites
These are those satellites which revolve in polar orbits around earth. A polar orbit is that orbit
whose angle of inclination with equatorial plane of earth is 90°.
Height from earth’s surface = 880 km
Time period = 84 min
Orbital velocity = 8 km / s
Angular velocity = 2? / 84 = ? / 42 rad / min.
There satellites revolve around the earth in polar orbits.
These satellites are used in forecasting weather, studying the upper region of the atmosphere, in mapping, etc.
PSLV series satellites are polar satellites of India.
Orbital velocity of a satellite is the minimum velocity required to the satellite into a given orbit around earth.
Orbital velocity of a satellite is given by
vo = ?GM / r = R ?g / R + h
where, M = mass of the planet, R = radius of the planet and h = height of the satellite from planet’s surface.
If satellite is revolving near the earth’s surface, then r = (R + h) =- R
Now orbital velocity, vo = ?gR
= 7.92km / h
if v is the speed of a satellite in its orbit and vo is the required orbital velocity to move in the orbit, then
(i) If v < vo, then satellite will move on a parabolic path and satellite falls back to earth.
(ii) If V = vo then satellite revolves in circular path/orbit around earth.
(iii) If vo < V < ve then satellite shall revolve around earth in elliptical orbit.
Total energy of a satellite
E = KE + PE
= GMm / 2r + (- GMm / r)
= – GMm / 2r
The energy required to remove a satellite from its orbit around the earth (planet) to infinity is called binding energy of the satellite.
Binding energy of the satellite of mass m is given by
BE = + GMm / 2r
Escape velocity on earth is the minimum velocity with which a body has to be projected vertically upwards from the earth’s surface so that it just crosses the earth’s gravitational field and never returns.
ve = ?2GM / R
= ?2gR = ?8?p GR2 / 3
Escape velocity does not depend upon the mass or shape or size of the body as well as the direction of projection of the body.
Escape velocity at earth is 11.2 km / s.
Relation between escape velocity and orbital velocity of the satellite
ve = ?2 vo
If velocity of projection U is equal the escape velocity (v = ve), then the satellite will escape away following a parabolic path.
If velocity of projection u of satellite is greater than the escape velocity ( v > ve), then the satellite will escape away following a hyperbolic path.
It is a situation in which the effective weight of the body becomes zero, Weightlessness is achieved
(i) during freely falling under gravity
(ii) inside a space craft or satellite
(iii) at the centre of the earth
(iv) when a body is lying in a freely falling lift.
(i) Law of orbit Every planet revolve around the sun in elliptical orbit and sun is at its one
focus.
(ii) Law of area The radius vector drawn from the sun to a planet sweeps out equal areas in
equal intervals of time, i.e., the areal velocity of the planet around the sun is constant.
Areal velocity of a planet
dA / dt = L / 2m = constant
where L = angular momentum and m = mass of the planet.
(iii) Law of period The square of the time period of revolution of planet around the sun is directly proportional to the cube semi-major axis of its elliptical orbit.
T2 &infi; a3 or (T1 / T2)2 = (a1 / a2)3
where, a = semi-major axis of the elliptical orbit.
Important Points
(i) A missile is launched with a velocity less than the escape velocity. The sum of its kinetic
energy and potential energy is negative.
(ii) The orbital speed of jupiter is less than the orbital speed of earth.
(iii) A bomb explodes on the moon. You cannot hear the sound of the explosion on earth.
(iv) A bottle filled with water at 30°C and fitted with a cork is taken to the moon. If the cork is
opened at the surface of the moon then water will boil.
(v) For a satellite orbiting near earth’s surface
(a) Orbital velocity = 8 km / s
(b) Time period = 84 min approximately
(c) Angular speed ? = 2? / 84 rad / min
= 0.00125 rad / s
(vi) Inertial mass and gravitational mass
(a) Inertial mass = force / acceleration
(b) Gravitational mass = weight of body / acceleration due to gravity
(c) They are equal to each other in magnitude.
(d) Gravitational mass of a body is affected by the presence of other bodies near it.
Inertial mass of a body remains unaffected by the presence of other bodies near it.
The force of gravitation is the attractive force between any two objects in the universe, where every object attracts every other object.
Newton's Law of Gravitation states that the gravitational force between two masses (m1 and m2) separated by a distance (r) is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
The value of the gravitational constant G is approximately 6.67 x 10^-11 Nm^2 kg^-2, and it is constant throughout the universe.
Acceleration due to gravity is the uniform acceleration produced in a freely falling object due to the Earth's gravitational pull. Its value is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 near the Earth's surface.
Acceleration due to gravity decreases with increasing altitude above the Earth's surface.
A satellite is a celestial object that revolves around a planet. Natural satellites are not man-made, while artificial satellites are man-made.
Orbital velocity is the minimum velocity required for a satellite to maintain a given orbit around a planet without falling back.
A geostationary satellite appears to be fixed at a specific position relative to an observer on Earth, revolving around the Earth in an equatorial orbit with a time period of 24 hours.
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