Physics - Gravitation Question with Solution | TestHub
Assertion : Generally the path of a projectile from the earth is parabolic but it is elliptical for projectiles going to a very great height. Reason : Up to ordinary height the projectile moves under a uniform gravitational force, but for great heights, projectile moves under a variable force.
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Upto ordinary heights the change in the distance of a projectile from the centre of the earth is negligible compared to the radius of the earth. Hence projectile moves under a nearly uniform gravitational force and its path is parabolic. But for projectiles going to great heights, the gravitational force decreases in inverse poroportion to the square of the distance of the projectile from the centre of the earth. Under such a variable force the path of projectile is elliptical.
