When one moves from a point 16 km below the earth's surface to a point 16 km above the earth's surface. The change in g is approximately $$\alpha$$ %. The value of $$\alpha$$ is _______. (Take radius of the earth = 6400 km.)
Gravitation is a high-scoring and conceptually elegant chapter in JEE Physics that connects Newtonian mechanics with the motion of planets and satellites. It introduces the universal law of gravitation, gravitational field and potential, and orbital mechanics topics that appear reliably in JEE Main and feature in JEE Advanced. Because most questions are formula-based with clear physical meaning, JEE Gravitation questions are an efficient scoring area for aspirants.
This chapter covers Newton's law of gravitation, acceleration due to gravity and its variation, gravitational potential energy, escape and orbital velocity, and Kepler's laws. JEE Main favours direct application of these formulas, while JEE Advanced occasionally tests deeper reasoning about energy in orbits and field calculations. Practising topic-wise JEE Questions helps you master the standard formulas and the energy approach to orbital problems
Gravitation Topic Overview
Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
Topic Name | Gravitation |
Subject | Physics |
JEE Main Weightage | ~3–5% (1–2 questions on average) |
JEE Advanced Weightage | ~4–6% (orbital and energy problems) |
Difficulty Level | Moderate |
Important Concepts | Newton's Law, Gravitational Field & Potential, Escape & Orbital Velocity, Kepler's Laws |
Recommended Practice Level | High – attempt 60+ mixed problems |
Why Practice JEE Gravitation Questions?
- Reliable weightage: Gravitation contributes 1–2 questions in JEE Main most years.
- Formula-based scoring: Many questions are direct applications, making them quick to solve.
- Reinforces field concepts: The field-and-potential approach carries directly into electrostatics.
- Strong in orbital mechanics: Satellite and energy problems appear in both JEE Main and Advanced.
- High conceptual clarity: Kepler's laws and orbital energy build deep physical intuition.
- Efficient revision: A compact formula set makes last-minute review effective.
- Connects to SHM: Variation of gravity and oscillation problems link to other chapters.
Important Concepts and Subtopics
Concept | Importance | Difficulty Level | Frequently Asked In |
|---|---|---|---|
Newton's Law of Gravitation | Very High | Easy | JEE Main |
Variation of g (Altitude, Depth, Rotation) | Very High | Moderate | JEE Main & Advanced |
Gravitational Field & Potential | High | Moderate | JEE Advanced |
Gravitational Potential Energy | High | Moderate | JEE Main & Advanced |
Escape & Orbital Velocity | Very High | Moderate | JEE Main & Advanced |
Satellites & Orbital Energy | High | Moderate–High | JEE Advanced |
Kepler's Laws | High | Easy–Moderate | JEE Main |
Preparation Strategy for JEE Gravitation
Concept learning: Begin with Newton's universal law and the idea of gravitational field and potential. Understand how acceleration due to gravity changes with altitude, depth, and Earth's rotation, since these variations are frequently tested.
Formula revision: Keep relations for g-variation, gravitational potential energy, escape velocity, orbital velocity, and satellite energy handy. Pairing this with structured JEE Online Coaching helps you reinforce derivations and clear doubts on orbital-energy reasoning.
Problem-solving techniques: Use energy conservation for escape-velocity and orbit-change problems. For field calculations, exploit symmetry just as you would in electrostatics. Apply Kepler's third law directly for period-radius relationships.
Common mistakes: Confusing gravitational potential with potential energy, sign errors in orbital energy (which is negative for bound orbits), and misapplying g-variation formulas for depth versus altitude.
Exam strategy: Attempt direct g-variation and Kepler's-law questions first, then tackle orbital-energy and field problems that need more reasoning.
JEE Main & Advanced Weightage Analysis
Exam | Average Questions | Expected Marks |
|---|---|---|
JEE Main | 1–2 | 4–8 |
JEE Advanced | 1–2 | 4–8 |
Gravitation is a steady contributor in JEE Main, mainly through g-variation, escape velocity, and Kepler's laws. JEE Advanced tends to test orbital energy and field reasoning with cleaner numerical answers.
Tips to Solve Gravitation Questions Faster
- Use energy conservation for escape-velocity and orbit-transfer problems instead of force analysis.
- Apply Kepler's third law (T² ∝ r³) directly to compare orbital periods and radii.
- Remember that total orbital energy is negative for bound satellites watch the sign.
- Exploit symmetry for gravitational-field problems, mirroring the electrostatics approach.
- Distinguish g-variation with depth (linear) from variation with altitude (inverse-square).
- Keep escape and orbital velocity relations ready, noting escape velocity is √2 times orbital velocity at the surface.
Practising these under timed conditions with a JEE Mock Test helps you solve gravitation problems quickly and avoid sign errors.