Question

which changes would result in a decrease in the gravitational force between two objects? check all that apply
increasing the distance between the objects

decreasing the distance between the objects

increasing the mass of one of the objects

increasing the mass of both objects

decreasing the mass of one of the objects

decreasing the mass of both objects

Explanation:

The formula for gravitational force is $F = G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2}$, where $F$ is the gravitational force, $G$ is the gravitational constant, $m_1$ and $m_2$ are the masses of the two objects, and $r$ is the distance between them.

• When the distance $r$ increases, the denominator $r^2$ increases, so $F$ decreases (since $F$ is inversely proportional to $r^2$).
• When the mass of one object ($m_1$ or $m_2$) decreases, the numerator $m_1m_2$ decreases, so $F$ decreases (since $F$ is directly proportional to the product of the masses).
• When the mass of both objects decreases, the numerator $m_1m_2$ decreases even more, so $F$ decreases.
• Decreasing the distance would increase $F$ (inverse square relationship with distance), and increasing the mass(es) would increase $F$ (direct relationship with mass product).

Answer:

• increasing the distance between the objects
• decreasing the mass of one of the objects
• decreasing the mass of both objects