Final answer:
An increase in distance between two objects decreases gravitational force, and an increase in total mass increases it; the correct response is A) decrease, increase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational force between two objects is governed by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that an increase in distance between two objects will decrease the gravitational force between them, while an increase in the total mass of two objects will increase the gravitational force between them. The correct response here, therefore, is A) decrease, increase.
It's important to note that gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses of two objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This fundamental principle explains why gravitational force diminishes with greater separation and magnifies with increased mass.