Question

Two objects are very close together object 1 is more massive than object 2 which statement best describes how the gravitational force between the objects will change after they move farther apart from each other

A) the gravitational force between the two objects will increase
B) the gravitational force will be weaker for object 2
C) the gravitational force between the two will decrease
D) the gravitational force will be stronger for object 2

Answer 1

The gravitational force between two objects decreases as the distance between them increases, according to Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves the concept of gravitational force, which is governed by Newton's law of universal gravitation. According to this law, the gravitational force between any two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Therefore, if two objects move farther apart from each other, the gravitational force between them decreases.

This understanding helps us determine that as object 1, which is more massive than object 2, and object 2 move farther apart, the gravitational pull that each exerts on the other weakens. This is a symmetric force; object 1 exerts the same magnitude of force on object 2 as object 2 does on object 1, regardless of their masses. Thus, the correct answer to the question is option C) the gravitational force between the two will decrease.