Answer the following: (a) You can shield | Class 11 Physics Chapter Gravitation, Gravitation NCERT Solutions

Current NCERT chapter

Academic session 2026-27, Chapter 7 in the current curriculum.

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics - Chapter Gravitation. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 1, Question 1: Answer the following: (a) You can shield a charge from electrical forces by putting it inside a hollow conductor. Can you shield a body from the gravitational influence of nearby matter by putting it inside a hollow sphere or by some other means? (b) An astronaut inside a small space ship orbiting around the earth cannot detect gravity. If the space station orbiting around the earth has a large size, can he hope to detect gravity? (c) If you compare the gravitational force on the earth due to the sun to that due to the moon, you would find that the Suns pull is greater than the moons pull. (You can check this yourself using the data available in the succeeding exercises). However, the tidal effect of the moons pull is greater than the tidal effect of sun. Why?. With detailed answers and explanations for each chapter, students can strengthen their understanding and prepare confidently for exams. Ideal for CBSE and other board students, this resource will simplify your study experience.

Question 1: Answer the following: (a) You can shield a charge from electrical forces by putting it inside a hollow conductor. Can you shield a body from the gravitational influence of nearby matter by putting it inside a hollow sphere or by some other means? (b) An astronaut inside a small space ship orbiting around the earth cannot detect gravity. If the space station orbiting around the earth has a large size, can he hope to detect gravity? (c) If you compare the gravitational force on the earth due to the sun to that due to the moon, you would find that the Suns pull is greater than the moons pull. (You can check this yourself using the data available in the succeeding exercises). However, the tidal effect of the moons pull is greater than the tidal effect of sun. Why?
Answer:

(a) No (b) Yes

(a) Gravitational influence of matter on nearby objects cannot be screened by any means. This is because gravitational force unlike electrical forces is independent of the nature of the material medium. Also, it is independent of the status of other objects.

(b) If the size of the space station is large enough, then the astronaut will detect the change in Earth’s gravity (g).

(c) Tidal effect depends inversely upon the cube of the distance while, gravitational force depends inversely on the square of the distance. Since the distance between the Moon and the Earth is smaller than the distance between the Sun and the Earth, the tidal effect of the Moon’s pull is greater than the tidal effect of the Sun’s pull.


Study Tips for Answering NCERT Questions:

NCERT questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts and theories discussed in the chapter. Here are some tips to help you answer NCERT questions effectively:

  • Read the question carefully and focus on the core concept being asked.
  • Reference examples and data from the chapter when answering questions about Gravitation.
  • Review previous year question papers to get an idea of how such questions may be framed in exams.
  • Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
  • Discuss your answers with your teachers or peers to get feedback and improve your understanding.

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Comments

  • Harsh
  • Feb 21, 2018

For answer (a) I guess we can shield a body from the gravitational influence inside the hollow sphere if it's kept in exact middle. Due to symmetry the gravitational force acting on the body in all the directions will be same and thus l L out. Resulting in zero gravitational force.


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Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics - Chapter . This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Excercise 1 , Question 1: Answer the following: (a) You can shield a charge from electrical forces by putting it inside a holl....

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