NEET Physics: Gravitation Practice Questions
14 free multiple-choice questions on Gravitation for NEET Physics, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.
Practice thousands more Gravitation questions in the app →Q1. Which of the following quantities is constant according to the Universal Law of Gravitation?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — The gravitational constant G
The Universal Law of Gravitation states that the force is proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance. The constant of proportionality, G (the gravitational constant), is the only universal constant in this law.
Q2. What force is primarily responsible for keeping a satellite in its stable orbit around the Earth?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C — Gravitational force of the Earth
The satellite remains in orbit because the gravitational force exerted by the Earth provides the necessary centripetal force for the satellite's circular motion.
Q3. Gravitational potential energy between two masses is fundamentally dependent on which of the following quantities?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D — The gravitational constant G and the separation distance
Gravitational potential energy (U) is calculated using the formula U = -Gm₁m₂/r, where m₁ and m₂ are the masses and r is the separation distance. Therefore, it depends directly on the masses and the separation distance, scaled by the gravitational constant G.
Q4. If a body is released from a point on the surface of a planet, what is the minimum initial velocity required for it to escape the planet's gravitational pull entirely?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — The escape velocity
The escape velocity is defined as the minimum speed required for an object to escape the gravitational field of a massive body. This minimum speed is known as the escape velocity.
Q5. The escape velocity of a body from the surface of a planet is directly proportional to which of the following quantities?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D — The radius of the planet
The escape velocity (vₑ) is given by the formula vₑ = √(2GM/R). This shows that escape velocity is directly proportional to the square root of the mass (M) and inversely proportional to the square root of the radius (R). In a conceptual comparison, the escape velocity depends on the mass and radius of the body.
Q6. Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between the orbital period and the semi-major axis for a satellite orbiting a fixed body according to Kepler's Third Law?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C — The period is directly proportional to the square of the semi-major axis
Kepler’s Third Law (when applied to orbital motion) states that the square of the orbital period (T) is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis (a) of the orbit (T² ∝ a³).
Q7. Gravitational potential is a scalar quantity. What does this imply?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — It has magnitude only
Potential, being a measure of energy per unit mass, depends only on magnitude and does not have a directional component.
Q8. When a system of masses is configured such that the total gravitational potential energy is minimized, what is the general arrangement?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C — The masses are configured to minimize the potential energy by keeping them close together
Gravitational potential energy is negative when masses are closer (bound system). To minimize the potential energy (make it most negative), masses should be kept as close as possible.
Q9. The orbital velocity of a body moving in a stable circular orbit around a central mass depends primarily on which two factors?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D — The mass of the central body and the orbital radius
The orbital velocity (v) for a stable circular orbit is given by v = √(GM/r), where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the central body, and r is the orbital radius. Therefore, it depends on the mass of the central body and the radius of the orbit.
Q10. The value of acceleration due to gravity (g) on the surface of the Earth is approximately:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — 9.8 m/s²
The standard accepted value for the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s² (or 9.81 m/s² more precisely).
Q11. Consider a system where the gravitational potential is proportional to the inverse of the distance. If the distance between two masses is doubled, how does the gravitational potential between them change?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — It is halved
Since potential is inversely proportional to distance (V ∝ 1/r), if the distance (r) is doubled (2r), the new potential will be V' ∝ 1/(2r) = (1/2)V. Thus, the potential is halved.
Q12. What is the escape velocity required for an object to completely escape the gravitational field of a planet from its surface?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B — The minimum speed required to overcome the gravitational pull of the planet
Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to escape the gravitational influence of a celestial body completely. It is determined by the gravitational potential energy and the object's mass, calculated using the formula vₑ = √(2GM/R).
Q13. If the gravitational field intensity at a point is g, what is the gravitational force acting on a body of mass m at that point?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D — mg
The gravitational force (F) exerted by the gravitational field (g) on a body of mass (m) is defined as F = mg.
Q14. Which quantity is directly related to the strength of the gravitational attraction between two bodies, according to Newton's Law of Gravitation?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D — The value of the universal gravitational constant
The gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses and the universal gravitational constant (F ∝ G m₁ m₂ / r²). Therefore, the value of G determines the strength of the attraction.
Keep going — practice on Padhai Karlo
Padhai Karlo gives you unlimited NEET practice: chapter-wise questions, timed quizzes, and full mock tests with an All-India Rank — free to start.
Get the free Android app →