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How will the gravitational force between two objects change if they are moved to twice their original distance from each other

A 2 times more force
B 4 times more force
C 1/2 of the force
D 1/4 of the force ​

1 Answer

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The gravitational force between two bodies of mass M and m, separated by a distance r, has a magnitude F given by the universal law of gravitation,

F = G M m / r ²

where G is the universal gravitation constant (whose value is unimportant for this question).

If you double the distance r, then the new force has magnitude

G M m / (2r ) ² = 1/4 • G M m / r ²

i.e. 1/4 of the original force's magnitude. So the answer is D.

User Calinaadi
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