Question

As the planet makes one complete revolution around the star, starting at the position shown, the gravitational attraction between the star and the planet will

1 decrease, then increase 2 increase, then decrease 3 continually decrease
4 remain the same

Answer 1

The correct option is 1

1) Decrease, then increase

Step-by-step explanation:

We can find the solution from Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. It states that

"Force of gravitational attraction between any two bodies is directly proportional to the masses of both bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them."

`F_G=G(m_1m_2)/(r^2)`

Let G be the gravitational constant , m₁ and m₂ be the masses of Planet and the Star.

As these values are constant and will not change. Gravitational attraction only depends on the distance between Planet and Star.

`F_G\propto(1)/(r^2)`

As the planet moves around the star, its distance will start increasing, due to which Gravitational attraction will decrease. When halfway through, the planet start coming back to its initial location, distance will start decreasing, and Gravitational attraction will increase.