Question

what should be done in order to increase the gravitational force between two objects?
○ increase the distance between the two objects.
○ decrease the mass of both of the objects.
○ decrease the distance between the two objects.
○ decrease the mass of one of the objects.

Explanation:

According to Newton's law of universal gravitation \(F = G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2}\), 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. The gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses (\(m_1m_2\)) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (\(r^2\)).

• If we increase the distance \(r\) between the two objects, the gravitational force \(F\) will decrease because of the inverse - square relationship (\(F\propto\frac{1}{r^2}\)).
• If we decrease the mass of both objects (\(m_1\) and \(m_2\)), the gravitational force \(F\) will decrease since \(F\propto m_1m_2\).
• If we decrease the mass of one of the objects, the gravitational force \(F\) will decrease as \(F\propto m_1m_2\).
• If we decrease the distance \(r\) between the two objects, since \(F\propto\frac{1}{r^2}\), the gravitational force \(F\) will increase.

Answer:

C. Decrease the distance between the two objects.