Multiple Choice
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses depends on which two factors?
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8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Newton's Law of Gravity
Multiple Choice
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses depends on which two factors?
A
The masses of the two objects and their electric charges
B
The distance between the objects and their temperatures
C
The masses of the two objects and the distance between their centers
D
The volumes of the two objects and the distance between their surfaces
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the gravitational force between two point masses is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
Express the law mathematically as: \(F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}\), 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 their centers.
Understand that the gravitational force depends directly on the masses of the two objects, meaning if either mass increases, the force increases proportionally.
Recognize that the force depends inversely on the square of the distance between the centers of the two masses, so as the distance increases, the force decreases rapidly.
Conclude that the correct factors affecting the gravitational force are the masses of the two objects and the distance between their centers, not electric charges, temperatures, or volumes.
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