Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Physics

Chapter

Gravitation

Question:

If a planet of given density were made larger, its force of attraction for an object on its surface would increase because of planet’s greater mass but would decrease because of greater separation from the object to the centre of the planet. Which effect predominates?

Options:

Increase in radius

Increase in mass

Both affect the attraction equally

None of the above

Correct Answer:

Increase in mass

Explanation:

F = $\frac{GMm}{r^2}$

If r were doubled Mass becomes 8 times as

$M=\frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \rho$

Force due to increase in mass increases 8 times and due to increase in radius force reduces 4 times. Therefore, the effect of increase of mass predominates.