Question

4. Compare the change in initial and final gravitational force in

the following cases:
I. When the masses are double.
II. When the distance between masses are double.​

Answer 1

Gravitational force equals GMm/r^2, where G is constant, M and m are the masses, and r is distance.

For I, if both masses double, the formula becomes G2M2m/r^2, or 4GMm/r^2. Therefore, the gravitational force will quadruple or 4x.

For II, if the distance between the object doubles, the formula becomes GMm/(2r)^2 or GMm/4r^2. In this case, the gravitational force is 1/4x the initial force.