Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
A star like the sun has several bodies moving around it at different distances. Consider that all of them are moving in circular orbits. Let r be the distance of the body from the centre of the star and let its linear velocity be v, angular velocity ω, kinetic energy K, gravitational potential energy U, total energy E and angular momentum l. As the radius r of the orbit increases, determine which of the above quantities increase and which ones decrease.
Advertisements
Solution
The situation is shown in the diagram, where a body of mass m is revolving around a star of mass M.

Linear velocity of the body `v = sqrt((GM)/r)`
⇒ `v ∝ 1/sqrt(r)`
Therefore, when r increases, v decreases.
Angular velocity of the body `ω = (2π)/T`
According to Kepler's law of the period,
`T^2 ∝ r^3` ⇒ `T = kr^(3/2)`
Where k is a constant
∴ `ω = (2π)/(kr^(3/2))` ⇒ `ω ∝ 1/r^(3/2)` .....`(∵ ω = (2π)/T)`
Therefore, when r increases, ω decreases.
The kinetic energy of the body,
K = `1/2 mv^2`
= `1/2 m xx (GM)/r`
= `(GMm)/(2r)`
∴ `K ∝ 1/r`
Therefore, when r increases, KE decreases.
The gravitational potential energy of the body,
`U = - (GMm)/r` ⇒ `U ∝ 1/r`
Therefore, when r increases, PE becomes less negative i.e., increases.
Total energy of the body,
`E = KE + PE`
= `(GMm)/(2r) + (- (GMm)/r)`
= `- (GMm)/(2r)`
Therefore, when r increases, total energy becomes less negative, i.e., increases.
Angular momentum of the body,
`L = mvr`
= `mr sqrt((GM)/r)`
= `msqrt(GMr)`
∴ `L ∝ sqrt(r)`
Therefore, when r increases, angular momentum L increases.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
State Kepler's law of orbit and law of equal areas.
Let the period of revolution of a planet at a distance R from a star be T. Prove that if it was at a distance of 2R from the star, its period of revolution will be \[\sqrt{8}\] T.
In the Following figure shows the elliptical path of a planet about the sun. The two shaded parts have equal area. If t1 and t2 be the time taken by the planet to go from a to b and from c to d respectively,

The orbit of a planet revolving around a star is _______.
The square of its period of revolution around the sun is directly proportional to the _______ of the mean distance of a planet from the sun.
Write the Kepler's laws.
The third law of Kepler is also known as the Law of ______.
If the distance between the sun and the earth is made three times, then attraction between the two will ______
The mass and radius of earth is 'Me' and 'Re' respectively and that of moon is 'Mm' and 'Rm' respectively. The distance between the centre of the earth and that of moon is 'D'. The minimum speed required for a body (mass 'm') to project from a point midway between their centres to escape to infinity is ______.
The earth moves around the sun in an elliptical orbit as shown in the figure. The ratio, `"OA"/"OB"` = x. The ratio of the speed of the earth at Band at A is ______.

To verify Kepler's third law graphically four students plotted graphs. Student A plotted a graph of T (period of revolution of planets) versus r (average distance of planets from the sun) and found the plot is straight line with slope 1.85. Student B plotted a graph of T2 v/s r3 and found the plot is straight line with slope 1.39 and negative Y-intercept. Student C plotted graph of log T v/s log r and found the plot is straight line with slope 1.5. Student D plotted graph of log T v/s log r and found the plot is straight line with slope 0.67 and with negative X-intercept. The correct graph is of student
If the sun and the planets carried huge amounts of opposite charges ______.
- all three of Kepler’s laws would still be valid.
- only the third law will be valid.
- the second law will not change.
- the first law will still be valid.
The centre of mass of an extended body on the surface of the earth and its centre of gravity ______.
- are always at the same point for any size of the body.
- are always at the same point only for spherical bodies.
- can never be at the same point.
- is close to each other for objects, say of sizes less than 100 m.
- both can change if the object is taken deep inside the earth.
Give one example each of central force and non-central force.
Earth’s orbit is an ellipse with eccentricity 0.0167. Thus, earth’s distance from the sun and speed as it moves around the sun varies from day to day. This means that the length of the solar day is not constant through the year. Assume that earth’s spin axis is normal to its orbital plane and find out the length of the shortest and the longest day. A day should be taken from noon to noon. Does this explain variation of length of the day during the year?
How can an ellipse be drawn using pins and thread?
When is a planet moving fastest in its orbit?
