8.2 Choose the correct alternative :

(a) Acceleration due to gravity increases/decreases with increasing altitude.

(b) Acceleration due to gravity increases/decreases with increasing depth (assume the earth to be a sphere of uniform density).

(c) Acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the earth/mass of the body.

(d) The formula-GMm1/r2-1/r1  is more/less accurate than the formula mgr2-r1
 for the difference of potential energy between two points r2  and r1distance away from the center of the earth.

Explanation:

 

(a) Acceleration due to gravity decreases with increasing altitude.

      

 The relation between the two is given by :
gh=1-2hReg
Where, 
Re =radius of the earth
g=acceleration due to gravity on the surface of earth

 

It is clear from the given relation that acceleration due to gravity decreases with an increase in height.

(b) Acceleration due to gravity at depth d is given by the relation:

gd=1-dReg

It is clear from the given relation that acceleration due to gravity decreases with an increase in depth.

(c) Acceleration due to gravity of the body of mass m is given by the relation:

g=GMR2

Where,

G = Universal gravitational constant

M = Mass of the Earth

R = Radius of the Earth Hence, it can be inferred that acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the body.

(d) The gravitational potential energy of two points r2 and r1 distance away from the centre of the Earth is respectively given by:

V(r1)=-GmMr1
V(r2)=-GmMr2

So,Difference in potential energy, =V(r2)-V(r1)=-GmM1r2=1r1

Hence, this formula is more accurate than the formula mg (r2 r1).