Universal Law of Gravitation: NEET MCQs with Answers

15 free questions on Universal Law of Gravitation for NEET (UG), starting with previous-year NEET and AIPMT questions. Try each one, then tap Show answer for the answer and a short explanation.

Question 1

Previous-year question
The gravitational force between two objects is F. If the mass of each object is doubled and the distance between them is also doubled, the new gravitational force will be: [NEET 2019]
  1. F
  2. 4F
  3. F/4
  4. F/2
Show answer
Answer: (A) F
Explanation: Initial: F = Gm₁m₂/r². New: F' = G(2m₁)(2m₂)/(2r)² = 4Gm₁m₂/4r² = Gm₁m₂/r² = F. Doubling both masses (factor of 4) and doubling distance (factor of 4 denominator) cancel out, leaving the force unchanged.

Question 2

Previous-year question
Four identical point masses, each equal to M, are placed at the corners of a square of side a. The gravitational field intensity at the center of the square is: [NEET 2024]
  1. 0
  2. 4GM/a²
  3. 8GM/a²
  4. √2·GM/a²
Show answer
Answer: (A) 0
Explanation: Due to symmetry, the gravitational field from each mass at the center points toward that mass. The four forces are equal in magnitude and directed toward the four corners. By vector addition, they cancel perfectly, resulting in zero net field at the center. This is a consequence of the square's fourfold rotational symmetry.

Question 3

Previous-year question
If the distance between two masses is doubled, the gravitational force between them becomes: [NEET 2024]
  1. 4 times the original force
  2. 1/4 times the original force
  3. 2 times the original force
  4. 1/2 times the original force
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1/4 times the original force
Explanation: Since F ∝ 1/r², when r becomes 2r, then F_new = F_old/2² = F_old/4. The inverse-square relationship means that doubling the distance reduces the force to one-quarter. This principle is crucial in understanding planetary orbits and satellite motion.

Question 4

Previous-year question
Which of the following statements about gravitational force is incorrect? [NEET 2023]
  1. Gravitational force is always attractive
  2. Gravitational force follows an inverse-square law
  3. Gravitational force is independent of the medium between masses
  4. Gravitational force between two masses depends on their relative velocity
Show answer
Answer: (D) Gravitational force between two masses depends on their relative velocity
Explanation: Newton's law of gravitation shows that gravitational force depends only on masses and their separation (F = Gm₁m₂/r²). It is completely independent of relative velocity, relative motion, the nature of any material between the masses, or any other factor except mass and distance.

Question 5

Previous-year question
The universal gravitational constant G is: [NEET 2023]
  1. The same everywhere in the universe
  2. Depends on the mass of the object
  3. Depends on the distance between masses
  4. Different for different pairs of masses
Show answer
Answer: (A) The same everywhere in the universe
Explanation: G is a universal constant with value 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg². It is independent of the nature, size, or separation of masses. This universality shows that gravity is a fundamental interaction that operates identically everywhere in the cosmos.

Question 6

Previous-year question
The gravitational force between two point masses is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to: [NEET 2024]
  1. The distance between them
  2. The square of the distance between them
  3. The cube of the distance between them
  4. The sum of their distances from the origin
Show answer
Answer: (B) The square of the distance between them
Explanation: Newton's law of universal gravitation: F = Gm₁m₂/r². The force decreases with the square of the distance, not linearly or cubically. This inverse-square law is fundamental to gravitation and applies to all massive objects in the universe.

Question 7

Previous-year question
Three masses M at equilateral triangle vertices side a. Velocity in circle: [NEET 2024]
  1. √(GM/a)
  2. √(2GM/a)
  3. √(3GM/a)
  4. √(4GM/a)
Show answer
Answer: (A) √(GM/a)
Explanation: Resultant force = √3·GM²/a² at radius a/√3. Centripetal force: mv²/r = √3·GM²/a² gives v² = GM/a.
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Question 8

Previous-year question
Four identical masses M at square corners, side a. Field at center: [NEET 2024]
  1. 4GM/a²
  2. 0
  3. √2 GM/a²
  4. 8GM/a²
Show answer
Answer: (B) 0
Explanation: By symmetry, field from each points toward corner. Four equal vectors toward corners cancel. Superposition principle applied.

Question 9

Previous-year question
Mass M split into m and (M-m) separated by distance d. Maximum force when: [NEET 2020]
  1. m = M/4
  2. m = M/2
  3. m = M/3
  4. m = 2M/3
Show answer
Answer: (B) m = M/2
Explanation: F = Gm(M-m)/d². For maximum, dF/dm = 0 gives M - 2m = 0, so m = M/2. Product m(M-m) maximized when both parts equal.

Question 10

Previous-year question
Two identical masses 50 kg placed 1 m apart. Gravitational force between them: [NEET 2019]
  1. 1.67 × 10⁻⁸ N
  2. 1.67 × 10⁻⁷ N
  3. 1.67 × 10⁻⁶ N
  4. 1.67 × 10⁻⁹ N
Show answer
Answer: (B) 1.67 × 10⁻⁷ N
Explanation: F = Gm₁m₂/r² = (6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ × 50 × 50)/1² = 1.67 × 10⁻⁷ N.

Question 11

Previous-year question
Gravitational force between two objects: [NEET 2023]
  1. Always attractive regardless of masses
  2. Depends on the medium between them
  3. Changes if relative velocity changes
  4. Repulsive for some mass combinations
Show answer
Answer: (A) Always attractive regardless of masses
Explanation: Unlike electric forces, gravity is always attractive. Depends only on masses and distance, not relative velocity or medium.

Question 12

Previous-year question
If distance between two point masses doubles, gravitational force becomes: [NEET 2024]
  1. 2 times
  2. 4 times
  3. 1/2 times
  4. 1/4 times
Show answer
Answer: (D) 1/4 times
Explanation: F ∝ 1/r². When r → 2r, F_new = F_old/4. Inverse-square law fundamental to gravitation.

Question 13

Previous-year question
The gravitational field intensity at a point in a gravitational field is defined as: [NEET 2024]
  1. The gravitational potential at that point
  2. The gravitational force per unit mass at that point
  3. The gravitational potential energy per unit mass
  4. The acceleration due to gravity only near Earth's surface
Show answer
Answer: (B) The gravitational force per unit mass at that point
Explanation: Gravitational field intensity I = F/m, where F is the force on a mass m placed at that point. It has units of N/kg or m/s² and represents the strength of the gravitational field. This is analogous to electric field intensity in electrostatics.

Question 14

Previous-year question
Universal gravitational constant G equals: [NEET 2023]
  1. 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²
  2. 9.8 m/s²
  3. 3 × 10⁸ m/s
  4. 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
Show answer
Answer: (A) 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²
Explanation: G is universal constant in F = Gm₁m₂/r², same everywhere in universe. Other values are g, c, and e respectively.

Question 15

Previous-year question
Newton's law of gravitation: every particle attracts every other with force proportional to: [NEET 2024]
  1. Product of masses, inversely to distance
  2. Product of masses, inversely to r²
  3. Sum of masses, inversely to r²
  4. Product of masses, directly to r
Show answer
Answer: (B) Product of masses, inversely to r²
Explanation: F = Gm₁m₂/r² shows force is proportional to product of masses and inversely proportional to square of distance. This is the mathematical statement of universal gravitation.

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