Gravitation
NIOS · Class 12 · Physics
Complete topic list for Gravitation in NIOS Class 12 Physics. Key concepts, sub-topics, and what to focus on for board exams.
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Topics in Gravitation
Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation
- 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
- The gravitational force is always ATTRACTIVE – it never repels.
- It is a central force – it acts along the line joining the two particles.
Acceleration Due to Gravity (g)
- The acceleration produced in a body due to the gravitational pull of the Earth is called acceleration due to gravity (g).
- g is directed vertically downwards towards the centre of the Earth.
- g is INDEPENDENT of the mass of the falling body – a heavy stone and a light stone fall with the same acceleration.
Variation of g with Height, Depth, and Latitude
- g decreases as we go ABOVE the Earth's surface (height increases).
- g also decreases as we go BELOW the Earth's surface (depth increases).
- g is MAXIMUM at the poles and MINIMUM at the equator.
Weight, Mass, Gravitational Potential and Potential Energy
- MASS is an intrinsic property of a body. It remains CONSTANT everywhere – on Earth, Moon, Mars, or in space.
- WEIGHT is the gravitational force acting on a body. W = mg. It VARIES from place to place as g varies.
- Weight is maximum at poles, minimum at equator. Weight decreases at higher altitudes and inside Earth.
Key Concepts
Central concept: Gravitation
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