Analyzing the Relationship between Mass and Gravity
A 3-column table with 4 rows. The first column labeled Stage has entries 1, 2, 3, 4. The second column labeled Mass of Earth (kilograms) has entries 5.97 x 10 superscript 24, 5.97 x 10 superscript 24, 5.97 x 10 superscript 24, 5.97 x 10 superscript 24. The third column labeled Mass of Star (kilograms) has entries 1.8 x 10 superscript 30, 2.7 x 10 superscript 27, 5.0 x 10 superscript 25, 4.5 x 10 superscript 23.
Suppose for an unexplained reason a star near Earth started shrinking. At what stage is the gravitational force between Earth and the star the greatest?
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4