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Kumar Rohan

Physics and Mathematics

Gravitation — Complete Formula

  • ⭐ – Most used in JEE
  • ⚠️ – Common Mistake
  • 💡 – Memory Hint

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Gravitational Force [F = G \dfrac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}] [F] = force, [G] = gravitational constant, [m_1, m_2] = masses, [r] = separation N Always attractive ⭐
Value of G [G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}] N·m²/kg² Universal constant

💡 Memory Hint:
Force ∝ product of masses / square of distance


Gravitational Field & Acceleration

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Gravitational Field [g = \dfrac{F}{m}] [g] = field, [F] = force, [m] = test mass N/kg Force per unit mass
Field due to Mass [g = G \dfrac{M}{r^2}] [M] = mass of body m/s² Same as acceleration due to gravity ⭐
On Earth Surface [g = \dfrac{GM}{R^2}] [R] = radius of Earth m/s² Standard result ⭐

💡 Memory Hint:
Field = force per unit mass


Variation of g

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
At Height (h) [g_h = g\left(1 – \dfrac{2h}{R}\right)] [h] = height m/s² For [h \ll R] ⚠️
At Depth (d) [g_d = g\left(1 – \dfrac{d}{R}\right)] [d] = depth m/s² Linear decrease ⭐
Due to Rotation [g_{eff} = g – \omega^2 R] [\omega] = angular velocity of Earth m/s² Minimum at equator ⚠️

💡 Memory Hint:

  • Height → decreases faster
  • Depth → decreases linearly

Gravitational Potential & Potential Energy

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Gravitational Potential [V = -G \dfrac{M}{r}] [V] = potential J/kg Negative sign important ⚠️
Potential Energy [U = -G \dfrac{Mm}{r}] [U] = potential energy J Always negative ⭐
Relation [U = mV] Connects PE and potential

💡 Memory Hint:
Gravitational energy = always negative (bound system)


Escape Velocity

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Escape Velocity [v_e = \sqrt{\dfrac{2GM}{R}}] [v_e] = escape velocity m/s Independent of mass ⭐
Using g [v_e = \sqrt{2gR}] m/s Simplified form

💡 Memory Hint:
Escape → √2 times orbital velocity


Orbital Motion (Satellites)

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Orbital Velocity [v = \sqrt{\dfrac{GM}{r}}] [r] = orbital radius m/s For circular orbit ⭐
Time Period [T = 2\pi \sqrt{\dfrac{r^3}{GM}}] [T] = time period s Kepler’s 3rd law ⭐
Angular Velocity [\omega = \sqrt{\dfrac{GM}{r^3}}] rad/s Related to time period

💡 Memory Hint:

  • Velocity ∝ [1/\sqrt{r}]
  • Time ∝ [r^{3/2}]

Energy of Satellite

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Kinetic Energy [K = \dfrac{GMm}{2r}] J Half of magnitude of PE ⭐
Potential Energy [U = -\dfrac{GMm}{r}] J Negative
Total Energy [E = -\dfrac{GMm}{2r}] J Bound system ⭐

💡 Memory Hint:
[K : U : E = 1 : -2 : -1]


Geostationary Satellite

Concept Formula Symbols Meaning SI Units Key Notes / Tricks
Time Period [T = 24 , \text{hours}] s Same as Earth rotation ⭐
Orbital Radius [r^3 = \dfrac{GMT^2}{4\pi^2}] m Derived from Kepler’s law
Angular Velocity [\omega = \dfrac{2\pi}{T}] rad/s Fixed relative to Earth

💡 Memory Hint:
Appears stationary from Earth

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