Final answer:
The gravitational force between a computer mouse and a full coffee mug on a desk, separated by 42.0 cm, is calculated using Newton's law of universal gravitation, resulting in a very small and negligible force.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the gravitational force between a computer mouse and a coffee mug, we can use Newton's law of universal gravitation. Let's denote the mass of the mouse as m1 = 0.234 kg (convert grams to kilograms for consistency) and the mass of the coffee mug as m2 = 0.000647 kg. The distance r between the two objects is 0.42 m. The gravitational force F is given by the equation:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Plugging in the values:
F = (6.674 x 10^-11 N*m^2/kg^2) * (0.234 kg * 0.000647 kg) / (0.42 m)^2
After calculations, we find that the gravitational force between the mouse and the coffee mug is extremely small and practically negligible in everyday experience.