Multiple Choice
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, which variables determine the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses?
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8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Newton's Law of Gravity
Multiple Choice
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, which factors determine the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses?
A
The masses and the difference in their velocities; faster objects attract more strongly.
B
Only the distance between the objects; the force is independent of the masses.
C
The two masses and the distance between their centers (as in ).
D
Only the masses of the objects; the force is independent of distance.
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the gravitational force \(F\) 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 magnitude of 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 velocity of the objects does not affect the gravitational force; only the masses and the distance matter.
Note that the force acts along the line connecting the centers of the two masses and is always attractive.
Summarize that the magnitude of the gravitational force depends on both the masses involved and the square of the distance between them, as shown in the formula.
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