Question

The earth has about 80 times the mass of the earth's moon. The gravitational force exerted on the moon by the earth has what relation to the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the moon?

A.)1/80 x.
B.)the same as.
C.)zero; the earth exerts a force on the moon, but the moon is too small and too far.D.)away to exert a force on the earth.
E.)80 x.

Answer 1

Both forces are the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

The problem states that:

`m_e = 80*m_m`

The force exerted on the moon by earth is given by:

`F_m=(K*m_e*m_m)/(d^2)` where K is the gravitational constant, and d is the separation distance between the earth and the moon.

The force exerted on the earth by moon is given by:

`F_e=(K*m_m*m_e)/(d^2)` where K is the gravitational constant, and d is the separation distance between the earth and the moon.

The relation is therefore:

`F_m/F_e = (K*m_e*m_m/d^2)/(K*m_m*m_e/d^2)=1`

As you can see, they are the same.