Final answer:
The gravitational force between two asteroids with masses of 850,000 kg and 720,000 kg, 120 meters apart, can be calculated using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and is found to be approximately 2.83 newtons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force of gravity between two objects can be calculated using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, which is defined by the equation F = G * (M1 * M2) / R2, where F is the gravitational force in newtons, G is the universal gravitational constant, M1 and M2 are the masses of the two objects, and R is the distance between the centers of the two objects.
To calculate the gravitational force between two asteroids with masses of 850,000 kg and 720,000 kg separated by a distance of 120 meters, we use the given values: G = 6.67 × 10−11 N·m2/kg2, M1 = 850,000 kg, M2 = 720,000 kg, and R = 120 m.
The formula becomes: F = (6.67 × 10−11 N·m2/kg2) * (850,000 kg * 720,000 kg) / 120 m2.
After calculating, we find that the gravitational force F is approximately 2.83 newtons.