Question

The Earth and the Moon exert forces on each other, but the Moon is roughly one fourth the size and one eightieth the mass of the Earth..How does the magnitude of the force the Earth exerts on the Moon compare to the magnitude of the force the Moon exerts on the Earth?

Answer 1

Moon and Earth both exert equal force on each other

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know by the universal law of gravitation the force of gravitation is given by the formula

`F = (GMm)/(r^2)`

This is the mutual gravitational force on Earth and Moon by which they attract each other.

So here the force of attraction due to Earth on Moon as well as the Force due to Moon on Earth both will be same in magnitude and opposite in direction.

So here both forces is given as

`F_(moon) = F_(earth)`

`F = (GMm)/(r^2)`

Moon and Earth both exert equal force on each other