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A satellite is in orbit around the Earth. Which one feels the greater gravitational force: the satellite or the Earth?

(a) The satellite feels the greater force.
(b) The Earth feels the greater force.
(c) The satellite and the Earth feel the same force.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The Earth feels the greater gravitational force compared to the satellite due to their differing masses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The greater gravitational force is felt by the Earth rather than the satellite. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force of gravity between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them. Although the satellite is affected by the gravity of the Earth and is pulled towards it, the force experienced by the satellite is much smaller compared to the force experienced by the Earth due to the satellite's significantly smaller mass.

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