Gravitation is one of the most predictable chapters in NEET Physics. The formulas are few, the question styles barely change, and the marks are almost guaranteed once you know the patterns. This gravitation NEET PYQ analysis shows exactly what NTA keeps asking and how to solve each type in under a minute.
For the full subject plan, see our complete NEET Physics strategy. Gravitation is one of its best return-on-time chapters.
Want to test yourself first? Solve the Gravitation PYQs, then use this guide to fix the gaps.
Table of Contents
Why Gravitation Is a Scoring Chapter
NEET usually asks one to two questions from Gravitation, and they are mostly ratio or formula-based. You rarely need long calculations. That makes it ideal for building confidence and saving time for harder sections.
It also regularly appears among the most repeated NEET topics, especially questions on the variation of g and satellite motion. Check the NEET 2027 chapter weightage to see how it compares with other Class 11 units.
Gravitation NEET PYQ Analysis: The Five Repeated Question Types
When you sort a decade of NEET physics PYQs from this chapter, five question types show up again and again.
| Question type | Frequency | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Variation of acceleration due to gravity | Most frequent | g at height and depth, effect of rotation |
| Escape velocity NEET questions | Very frequent | Formula, dependence on mass and radius |
| Orbital velocity and satellites | Very frequent | Speed, time period, energy of satellites |
| Kepler’s laws NEET questions | Regular | T² ∝ r³, areal velocity |
| Gravitational potential energy | Regular | Work needed to move a body away from Earth |
Most questions are really ratio questions in disguise. If you can see how one quantity depends on another, you can often answer without a calculator. Our dimensional analysis shortcut tricks also help you check whether a formula option is even possible.
Acceleration Due to Gravity: Height vs Depth
These two formulas appear in NEET again and again:
- At height h (h ≪ R): g_h = g(1 − 2h/R)
- At depth d: g_d = g(1 − d/R)
A favourite question: at what height does g decrease by the same amount as at depth d? Comparing the two gives h = d/2. Also remember that g is zero at the centre of the Earth.
Escape Velocity and Orbital Velocity
The two key speeds are:
- Escape velocity: vₑ = √(2GM/R) = √(2gR), about 11.2 km/s for Earth
- Orbital speed near the surface: v₀ = √(GM/R) = √(gR)
So vₑ = √2 × v₀. Escape velocity NEET questions often test that vₑ does not depend on the mass of the body being launched, or the direction it is thrown in.
For a satellite in orbit of radius r:
- Kinetic energy = GMm / 2r
- Potential energy = −GMm / r
- Total energy = −GMm / 2r
When options look similar, a smart elimination technique for guessing helps you rule out answers with the wrong sign or wrong power of r.
Kepler’s Laws
Kepler’s laws NEET questions mainly test the third law: T² ∝ r³. If the orbital radius becomes 4 times, the time period becomes 8 times, since (4)^(3/2) = 8. The second law, equal areas in equal times, comes from conservation of angular momentum.
Worked PYQ-Pattern Questions
Q1. At what height above Earth’s surface does g become the same as at a depth of 10 km? (h ≪ R)
Answer: 5 km. Equating g(1 − 2h/R) and g(1 − d/R) gives h = d/2 = 5 km.
Q2. A planet has the same density as Earth but twice its radius. What is its escape velocity compared to Earth’s?
Answer: Twice. With constant density, M ∝ R³, so vₑ = √(2GM/R) ∝ R.
Q3. A satellite’s orbital radius is increased 4 times. What happens to its time period?
Answer: It becomes 8 times. From T² ∝ r³, T ∝ r^(3/2) = 4^(3/2) = 8.
Q4. What is the ratio of escape velocity to orbital speed near Earth’s surface?
Answer: √2 : 1. vₑ = √(2gR) and v₀ = √(gR).
Common Traps in This Chapter
- Using g(1 − 2h/R) when h is not small compared with R
- Thinking escape velocity depends on the mass of the object
- Forgetting the negative sign in potential and total energy
- Mixing up T ∝ r^(3/2) with T ∝ r²
- Saying g is maximum at the centre of the Earth (it is zero there)
Practise Every Gravitation PYQ
This gravitation NEET PYQ analysis gives you the full map of the chapter. The next step is solving every past question until each type feels routine. All Gravitation previous year questions are free on Ksquare Study:
👉 Solve all Gravitation NEET PYQs
Try to answer ratio questions mentally before writing anything. That speed is exactly what saves minutes on exam day.
Conclusion
Gravitation rewards students who learn a handful of formulas and practise the ratio patterns. Use this gravitation NEET PYQ analysis as your revision checklist, solve the past questions chapter-wise, and this chapter becomes some of the easiest marks in your Physics section.
❓ FAQ
Q: How many questions come from Gravitation in NEET? A: Usually one to two questions. They are mostly formula and ratio based, which makes Gravitation one of the most scoring chapters in Class 11 Physics.
Q: What is the most important topic in Gravitation for NEET? A: The variation of g with height and depth is the most frequent. Escape velocity and satellite speed questions follow closely.
Q: Does escape velocity depend on the mass of the object? A: No. Escape velocity depends only on the mass and radius of the planet, not on the mass of the object or the direction of launch.
Q: How can I revise Gravitation quickly before NEET? A: Use a gravitation NEET PYQ analysis to list the repeated question types, memorise the core formulas, and practise ratio questions mentally.
Q: Where can I practise Gravitation NEET PYQs for free? A: Ksquare Study has every Gravitation previous year question organised chapter-wise, free to solve with answers.