Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The radius vector from the Sun to a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time and thus areal velocity of planet is constant. [cite: 55]
Reason (R) For a central force field the angular momentum is a constant. [cite: 56]
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below: [cite: 57]
A.Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A) [cite: 63]
B.Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) [cite: 65]
Kepler's Second Law state that the areal velocity (dA)/(dt)$\frac{dA}{dt}$ is directly proportional to the angular momentum L$L$ of the planet[cite: 55, 684]. Because the gravitational force between the Sun and the planet acts strictly along the line joining their centers (a central force field), its torque τ = r × F = 0$\vec{\tau} = \vec{r} \times \vec{F} = 0$[cite: 56, 686]. Since torque is zero, the angular momentum L$L$ remains completely constant over time[cite: 686]. As a consequence, (dA)/(dt) = constant$\frac{dA}{dt} = \text{constant}$[cite: 55, 684]. Both statements are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)[cite: 63].
Pattern Recognition
Areal velocity constancy is a direct geometric manifestation of the conservation of angular momentum under any central force field[cite: 55, 56, 686].
Keywords:#Kepler second law angular momentum#JEE Main 2025 Evening Q6#central force field torque zero#areal velocity of planets
More Gravitation Previous-Year Questions
Q44jee_main_2026_21_jan_morningSatellite Energy
Initially a satellite of 100 kg is in a circular orbit of radius 1.5RE$1.5R_{E}$. This satellite can be moved to a circular orbit of radius 3RE$3R_{E}$ by supplying α × 10⁶J$\alpha \times 10^{6}J$ of energy. The value of α$\alpha$ is ____.
(Take Radius of Earth RE = 6 × 10⁶ m$R_{E} = 6 \times 10^{6}\text{ m}$ and g = 10 m/s²$g = 10\text{ m/s}^{2}$)
A. 150
B. 500
C. 100
D. 1000
Solution
Related Formula
E = (-GME m)/(2r)$$E = \frac{-GM_E m}{2r}$$Δ E = Ef - Eᵢ$$\Delta E = E_f - E_i$$g = (GME)/(RE²) GME = g RE²$$g = \frac{GM_E}{R_E^2} \implies GM_E = g R_E^2$$
Core Logic
Energy of a satellite in a circular orbit is given as E = (-GME m)/(2r)$E = \frac{-GM_E m}{2r}$ where r is the radius of the circular orbit.
Required energy to be supplied Δ E = Ef - Eᵢ$\Delta E = E_f - E_i$:
Substitute GME = g RE²$GM_E = g R_E^2$ into the expression:
Δ E = ((g RE²) m)/(6RE) = (1)/(6) m g RE$$\Delta E = \frac{(g R_E^2) m}{6R_E} = \frac{1}{6} m g R_E$$= (1)/(6) × 100 × 10 × (6 × 10⁶)$$= \frac{1}{6} \times 100 \times 10 \times (6 \times 10^6)$$= 1000 × 10⁶ J$$= 1000 \times 10^6\text{ J}$$
Comparing with α × 10⁶ J$\alpha \times 10^6\text{ J}$, we get α = 1000$\alpha = 1000$.
Pattern Recognition
Orbital transition energy is always Δ E = (GMm)/(2) ((1)/(rᵢ) - (1)/(rf))$\Delta E = \frac{GMm}{2} (\frac{1}{r_i} - \frac{1}{r_f})$. Never forget the factor of 2 in the denominator (which accounts for kinetic energy contribution in orbit).
Sees: Escape velocity scaling with density and radius.
Shortcut: Express escape velocity in terms of density ρ$\rho$ and radius R$R$, then take ratios.
Check: Matches option (3). ✓
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Gravitation
Q35jee_main_2026_22_january_morningGravitational Force and Superposition
Net gravitational force at the centre of a square is found to be F₁$F_{1}$ when four particles having mass M, 2M, 3M and 4M are placed at the four corners of the square as shown in figure and it is F₂$F_{2}$ when the positions of 3M and 4M are interchanged. The ratio F₁F₂$\frac{F_{1}}{F_{2}}$ is α√(5)$\frac{\alpha}{\sqrt{5}}$. The value of α$\alpha$ is \_\_\_\_.
Four point masses placed at the corners of a square.
A. 2
B. 3
C. 1
D.2√(5)$2\sqrt{5}$
Solution
Related Formula
F = (G m₁ m₂)/(r²)$$F = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}$$
Core Logic
Four point masses placed at the corners of a square.
Initial configuration:
F₁ = 2√(2) (Gmm₀)/(r²)$|
New configuration (after interchanging 3M and 4M):
$$F_1 = 2\sqrt{2} \frac{Gmm_0}{r^2}$|
New configuration (after interchanging 3M and 4M):
Sees: Gravitational force vector sum at center of square.
Shortcut: Compute net vector resultants for both mass configurations and take ratio.
Check: Matches option (1). ✓
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Gravitation
Q39jee_main_2026_22_january_eveningSatellite Motion and Time Period
Given below are two statements :
Statement I : A satellite is moving around earth in the orbit very close to the earth surface. The time period of revolution of satellite depends upon the density of earth.
Statement II: The time period of revolution of the satellite is T = 2π Rₑg$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{R_{e}}{g}}$ (for satellite very close to the earth surface), where Rₑ$R_{e}$ radius of earth and g acceleration due to gravity.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Hence, time period depends inversely on the square root of Earth's density ρ$\rho$. Statement I is true.
Evaluating Statement II:
Substituting g = (GM)/(Rₑ²)$g = \frac{GM}{R_e^2}$ into T = 2π √((Rₑ³)/(GM))$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{R_e^3}{GM}}$:
T = 2π √((Rₑ)/(g))$$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{R_e}{g}}$$
Statement II is also true.
Step 1: Final Conclusion
Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
Pattern Recognition
Near-surface satellite shortcut: T = √(3π / (Gρ)) ≈ 84.6 min$T = \sqrt{3\pi / (G\rho)} \approx 84.6 \text{ min}$. Shows direct dependence on Earth's density ρ$\rho$ and formula T = 2π √(Rₑ / g)$T = 2\pi \sqrt{R_e / g}$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Gravitation
Q45jee_main_2026_24_january_morningGravitational Potential Energy
Three masses 200 kg, 300 kg and 400 kg are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with sides 20 m. They are rearranged on the vertices of a bigger triangle of side 25 m and with the same centre. The work done in this process ____ J.
(Gravitational constant G = 6.7 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² / kg²$G = 6.7 \times 10^{-11} \text{ N m}^{2} / \text{kg}^{2}$)
A.9.86 × 10⁻⁶$9.86 \times 10^{-6}$
B.2.85 × 10⁻⁷$2.85 \times 10^{-7}$
C.1.74 × 10⁻⁷$1.74 \times 10^{-7}$
D.4.77 × 10⁻⁷$4.77 \times 10^{-7}$
Solution
Related Formula
U = -(Gm₁ m₂)/(r)$$U = -\frac{Gm_1 m_2}{r}$$Wₑₓₜ = Δ U = Uf - Uᵢ$$W_{\text{ext}} = \Delta U = U_f - U_i$$
Core Logic
Equilateral triangle mass configuration scaling
Initial potential energy of the system (rᵢ = 20 m$r_i = 20 \text{ m}$):
When an entire geometric configuration is isotropically scaled (e.g., side a$a$ to b$b$), the total potential energy scales by the ratio of their reciprocals. Uf = Uᵢ (rᵢ/rf)$U_f = U_i (r_i/r_f)$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Gravitation
Class 11 Physics: Work, Energy and Power
More Gravitation Questions — jee_main_2025_07_april_evening
Practice past-year questions one chapter at a time. Pick an exam → subject → chapter and get every PYQ for that topic — pulled together from all past papers — with the chapter's key formulas alongside.