NOTES OF FORCE AND MOTION
COMPLETE NOTES OF FORCE AND MOTION , CLASS-10
GET COMPLETE NOTES |
GRAVITATION AND FREE FALL 
Complete Study Notes
★ WHY DO WE STUDY GRAVITATION? |
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To understand the force that keeps planets in orbit and holds galaxies together
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To analyze the motion of objects under gravitational influence
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To predict and calculate physical phenomena in space and on Earth
Gravitation is one of the FOUR fundamental forces of nature 
★ NEWTON’S LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION |
Every two objects in the universe attract each other with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
F = G(m₁ × m₂) / r²
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F = Gravitational force (Newtons)
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G = Gravitational constant = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²
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m₁, m₂ = Masses of the objects (kg)
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r = Distance between centers (m)
✓ Gravitational force is always ATTRACTIVE in nature
★ ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY (g) |
The acceleration acquired by a body due to Earth’s gravitational attraction.
At Earth’s Surface: g = GM / R²
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g ≈ 9.8 m/s² (or 10 m/s² approximately)
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M = Mass of Earth = 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg
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R = Radius of Earth = 6.37 × 10⁶ m
Variation from Center to Surface:
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At Earth’s Center: g = 0 (zero!)
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At Surface: g = 9.8 m/s²
At Height h Above Surface: g = GM / (R + h)²
✓ As you go UP from Earth, g DECREASES ↓
★ GRAVITATIONAL FORCE & WEIGHT |
Weight is the gravitational force exerted on an object by a planetary body.
W = m × g
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W = Weight (Newtons or kgf)
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m = Mass of object (kg) [CONSTANT]
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g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s²) [VARIES]
MASS vs WEIGHT:
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MASS: Amount of matter, Always CONSTANT, Not a force
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WEIGHT: Gravitational force, VARIES with location, Force (Vector)
Example: A person with mass 60 kg
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On Earth: W = 60 × 10 = 600 N
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On Moon (g=1.6): W = 60 × 1.6 = 96 N
✓ Your MASS is same everywhere but your WEIGHT changes!
★ FREE FALL – INTRODUCTION |
Free fall is the motion of an object under the sole influence of gravity, with no other forces acting on it.
Conditions for Free Fall:
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Only gravity acts on the object
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Air resistance is NEGLECTED (or zero)
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Object may be dropped, thrown up, or thrown down
Key Characteristics:
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Acceleration = constant = g = 9.8 m/s²
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Direction = DOWNWARD (toward Earth)
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It is uniformly accelerated motion
In free fall, weight appears to be ZERO (weightlessness) 
★ EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN FREE FALL |
These are the three kinematic equations with acceleration = g:
Equation 1: v = u + gt
Equation 2: s = ut + ½gt²
Equation 3: v² = u² + 2gs
Where:
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v = Final velocity (m/s)
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u = Initial velocity (m/s)
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g = 9.8 m/s² (take downward as positive)
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t = Time (s)
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s = Displacement (m)
✓ Use DOWNWARD as POSITIVE direction
★ SPECIAL CASES IN FREE FALL |
Case 1: Object Dropped from Rest
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u = 0
v = gt | s = ½gt² | v² = 2gs
Case 2: Object Thrown Upward
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u = positive (upward)
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At highest point: v = 0
Max height: h = u² / (2g)
Time to max height: t = u / g
Case 3: Object Thrown Downward
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u = positive (downward)
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All three equations apply directly
Case 4: Total Time of Flight (Vertical Throw)
T = 2u / g
✓ Time to go UP = Time to come DOWN 

★ APPLICATIONS OF FREE FALL IN DAILY LIFE |
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Falling Objects & Building Drops: Calculating time for objects to fall from skyscrapers
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Projectile Motion: Analyzing trajectories of balls, rockets, and bullets
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Astronauts & Weightlessness: Objects in orbit undergo continuous free fall
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Parachuting: Calculating fall time before parachute deployment
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Water Fountains: Designing fountains using freefall calculations
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Vehicle Safety: Airbag deployment and safety engineering
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Sports Physics: Jump heights in basketball, volleyball, and high jump
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Elevators: Analyzing motion when cables break
Free fall explains why astronauts feel WEIGHTLESS in space! 
★ SOLVED PROBLEMS |
Problem 1: Ball Dropped from Height
A ball is dropped from a height of 45 m. Find time taken and final velocity. (g = 10 m/s²)
Given: s = 45 m, u = 0, g = 10 m/s²
Solution:
Using s = ut + ½gt²
45 = 0 + ½(10)t²
45 = 5t² → t² = 9
t = 3 seconds ✓
Problem 2: Ball Thrown Upward
A ball is thrown upward with initial velocity 20 m/s. Find maximum height and total time of flight. (g = 10 m/s²)
Given: u = 20 m/s (upward), g = 10 m/s²
Solution:
Time to reach max height: t = u/g = 20/10 = 2 seconds
Maximum height: h = u²/(2g) = (20)²/(2×10) = 400/20 = 20 m ✓
Maximum height: h = u²/(2g) = (20)²/(2×10) = 400/20 = 20 m ✓
Total time of flight: T = 2u/g = 2(20)/10 = 4 seconds ✓
Total time of flight: T = 2u/g = 2(20)/10 = 4 seconds ✓
Problem 3: Gravitational Force Calculation
Calculate gravitational force between Earth and a 5 kg object. (M = 5.97×10²⁴ kg, R = 6.37×10⁶ m)
Solution:
F = GMm/R² = (6.67×10⁻¹¹ × 5.97×10²⁴ × 5) / (6.37×10⁶)²
F ≈ 49 N ✓
★ KEY FORMULAS SUMMARY |
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Gravitational Force: F = G(m₁m₂)/r²
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Acceleration due to Gravity: g = GM/R²
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Weight: W = mg
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Equations of Motion: v = u+gt, s = ut+½gt², v² = u²+2gs
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Max Height (upward): h = u²/(2g)
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Time of Flight: T = 2u/g
