Question

If the distance between two objects is cut in half, what happens to the

gravitational force between them?
A. It decreases to 1/4 its original magnitude.
B. It decreases to 1/2 its original magnitude.
C. It increases to 4 times its original magnitude.
D. It increases to 2 times its original magnitude.

Answer 1

C. It increases to 4 times its original magnitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the distance between two objects is cut in half, the gravitational force between them is increased by 4 times the original magnitude.

From Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force of attraction between two bodies is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional the the square of their masses.

• Since the mass is constant, then the gravitational force of attraction will increase 4 times the original magnitude.

lt the original distance = 4

Fg =
`(x )/(4^(2) )`

New distance = 3

Fg =
`(x)/(2^(2) )`

So;

`(x)/(2^(2) )` /
`(x )/(4^(2) )` = 4