Which statement about gravitational force is NOT correct?

It is exactly the same for every pair of bodies in the universe. Gravitational force is not identical for every pair of bodies — it depends on each pair's masses and the distance between them. Read more: Gravitation Basics.

Gravitation Basics – MCQ Questions

A satellite orbiting Earth needs no fuel at all to keep circling. Gravity alone does the work, forever. This article covers gravitation basics.

MCQ Questions

General Science

Gravitation Basics

Gravity weakens fast with distance — double the distance, quarter the force

Newton’s Law

Cavendish measured G

F ∝ m₁m₂ / r²

Weight vs Mass

Mass is constant

Weight changes with local gravity — same mass, different weight

g Varies by Location

Poles vs equator

Slightly higher at poles, due to Earth’s shape and rotation

On the Moon

Weaker surface gravity

Weight is roughly one-sixth of Earth weight — same mass throughout

📑 Contents

1Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Weight, and g
2Cavendish, Zero Weight, and Potential Energy
3Test Yourself
4Gravity in the Real World
5Exam Point of View
6Related Topics

✊ Must Know

Newton’s Law of Gravitation, Weight, and g

Newton’s LawThe gravitational force between two masses is proportional to their product, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Distance Matters FastIf distance doubles, gravitational force drops to one-quarter. Gravity weakens quickly with distance.
Weight vs. MassWeight is the force of gravity acting on a body’s mass. Mass stays constant everywhere, but weight changes with local gravity.
g at the PolesAcceleration due to gravity (g) is slightly higher at the poles than at the equator, mainly due to Earth’s shape and rotation.
On the MoonAn object’s weight on the Moon is roughly one-sixth its weight on Earth, since the Moon’s mass and radius give it weaker surface gravity.
What Sets gA planet’s own surface gravity depends on both its mass and its radius together, not either one alone: g = GM/R².

📘 Good to Know

Cavendish, Zero Weight, and Potential Energy

CavendishHenry Cavendish was the first to experimentally determine the value of the universal gravitational constant, G.
Zero at the CentreA body’s weight is zero at the exact centre of the Earth, since gravitational pull acts equally in all directions there, cancelling out.
Gravitational Potential EnergyGravitational potential energy depends on an object’s mass, height, and the local value of g.
Weight Scales With gIf you moved to a planet where g is 9 times Earth’s, your weight (not mass) would become exactly 9 times what it is here — weight scales directly with local g.

Test Yourself

Loading practice…

🌟 Great to Know

Gravity in the Real World

Always AttractiveGravity is unique among fundamental forces in always being attractive, unlike electric and magnetic forces, which can attract or repel.
Jumping on the MoonA person can jump higher on the Moon partly because their weight is lower there, even though their mass and muscular strength stay the same.
EngineeringReal-world engineering, from tall towers to satellite launches, depends on precisely accounting for how gravity varies with location and altitude.
Free Fall Around the EarthA satellite in orbit is really in continuous free fall: gravity alone supplies the centripetal force. With no friction in the vacuum of space, no ongoing energy is needed just to keep it circling.

📝 Exam Point of View

Exam Point of View

CDS-II 2022, Q87Surface gravity depends on BOTH a planet’s mass and its radius together — picking only one is the common wrong answer. View this question on the full CDS-II 2022 paper →
CDS-I 2022, Q21An object weighing 9 N on Earth weighs 9 times that, not a fixed absolute number, on a planet where g is 9 times Earth’s — weight always scales with the ratio of g values. View this question on the full CDS-I 2022 paper →
NDA-NA-II 2017, Q111A satellite needs no ongoing energy to stay in orbit — gravity alone keeps it circling; solar panels only power its onboard instruments. View this question on the full NDA-NA-II 2017 paper →
NDA-NA-1 2026, Q56Gravity does zero net work between two points of equal gravitational potential, even if the field strength differs along the way — work depends on the potential difference, not the field. View this question on the full NDA-NA-1 2026 paper →
The PatternThese questions test precise proportional reasoning (how weight or g actually scales) far more than plain recall of the gravitation formula.

GenSci0013 — Newton’s Laws, Force and Momentum — the force concepts this article’s gravitational force builds on.
GenSci0015 — Work, Energy and Power — covers the potential energy concept this article applies specifically to gravity.
CDS-I 2022 GK Paper — contains the weight-scaling PYQ cited above.
Browse all General Science articles

Take a General Science QuizRandom practice question from this subject →