A body of mass ' $\mathrm{m}$ ' is raised through a height above the earth's surface so that the increase in…

A body of mass ' $\mathrm{m}$ ' is raised through a height above the earth's surface so that the increase in potential energy is $\frac{\mathrm{mgR}}{5}$. The height to which the body is raised is ( $\mathrm{R}=$ radius of earth, $\mathrm{g}=$ acceleration due to gravity)
  1. $\mathrm{R}$
  2. $\frac{\mathrm{R}}{2}$
  3. $\frac{\mathrm{R}}{4}$
  4. $\frac{\mathrm{R}}{8}$

Solution

When a particle of mass $m$ is taken from the Earth's surface to a height $h=n R$, then the change in P.E. can be calculated as, $\begin{array}{ll} & \Delta \mathrm{U}=\operatorname{mgR}\left(\frac{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{n}+1}\right) \\ \therefore & \frac{\mathrm{mgR}}{5}=\mathrm{mgR}\left(\frac{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{n}+1}\right) \\ \therefore \quad \mathrm{n}+1=5 \mathrm{n} & \mathrm{n}=\frac{1}{4} \\ \therefore \quad & \mathrm{h}=\frac{\mathrm{R}}{4} \end{array}$

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (13 May Shift 1)

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