Question

karina is conducting an experiment based on isaac newtons law of universal gravitation. she is testing the strength of the force of gravity between two objects. what factors determine the strength of the force of gravity? choose the two that apply. distance between the objects sizes of the objects masses of the objects weights of the objects the ____ occurs twice each year. it is the day when the sun appears at either its highest or lowest point in the sky. the ____ also occurs twice each year. it is the day when the sun passes directly overhead at noon if you are standing at the equator. during these occurrences, night and day are both 12 hours long

Explanation:

• For the gravity question: Newton's law of universal gravitation states that the gravitational force \(F = G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2}\), where \(G\) is the gravitational constant, \(m_1\) and \(m_2\) are the masses of the two objects, and \(r\) is the distance between their centers of mass. So, the distance between the objects and the masses of the objects determine the strength of the gravitational force. The size of an object (if mass is constant) does not directly affect the gravitational force as per the formula. Weight is \(W=mg\) (where \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity at a particular location) and is not a factor in the formula for the gravitational force between two objects in the general form of Newton's law.
• For the first blank (sun's highest/lowest point): The solstice is the day when the sun appears at its highest (summer solstice) or lowest (winter solstice) point in the sky.
• For the second blank (sun overhead at equator, 12 - hour day/night): The equinox is the day when the sun passes directly overhead at noon at the equator and day and night are of equal length (12 hours each).

Answer:

• Gravity question: distance between the objects, masses of the objects
• First blank: solstice
• Second blank: equinox