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  1. >>Class 11
  2. >>Physics
  3. >>Gravitation
Common Misconceptions
4 min read

Gravitation

- What you are getting from a statement might not be necessarily true. Let's burst some of the common misconceptions
1
Understanding the terms Gravitation and Gravity.
MYTH: The gravitation and gravity are the two terms indicating the attraction of earth on each body. FACT: The gravitation is the universal attraction between every mass whereas the gravity is the attraction of earth(or any particular body) on each mass. The gravitational force between each and every mass is defined by the Newton's Law of gravitation. This force exists between each and every mass that exists in universe whereas the gravity is the gravitational pull of the Earth(or any other planet or body like moon) acting on any body. It could be well understood through the diagram below:
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2
Is gravitational force a universal force?
MYTH: The gravitational force acts only on huge masses that are close to each other. FACT: The gravitational force acts between each and every body in the universe that has mass.
Each and every mass is attracted by another mass due to the presence of the universal gravitational force between them. It acts in case of smaller masses as well as heavy masses. The only fact is that it is not easily experienced in case of smaller masses because its magnitude is very small.
3
The affect of gravity on a particular object.
MYTH: It is assumed by students that the gravity only acts on the object that is moving vertically. FACT: The acceleration due to gravity acts on each and every object that has mass. The acceleration due to gravity is acting on all the object in every case. It only comes into calculation during the vertical motion because this acceleration is always acting on a body in vertically downward direction. In horizontal motion, it does not affect the motion that's why it does not come into calculation.
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4
What determines that the value of acceleration due to gravity on moon as very less as compared to Earth?
MYTH: The gravity on moon is less because it is at a very large distance from the Earth. FACT: The gravity of any surface depends on its mass and its size. The value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon is very less because the mass of the moon is very less as compared to that of the Earth and also its size is very small. The acceleration due to gravity of moon has nothing to do with its distance from the Earth.
The acceleration due to gravity on any planet or moon is given as where M is the mass of that planet, R is the radius and G is the gravitational constant.