Multiple Choice
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses is . Which variables determine the value of (assuming is constant)?
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8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Newton's Law of Gravity
Multiple Choice
In Newton's law of universal gravitation, which two factors determine the magnitude of the gravitational force between two point masses?
A
The two masses and the distance between their centers
B
The two masses and their electric charges
C
The objects' volumes and the gravitational field direction
D
The distance between their centers and the objects' temperatures
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the gravitational force \(F\) between two point masses is directly 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 \(m_1\) and \(m_2\) are the masses, \(r\) is the distance between their centers, and \(G\) is the gravitational constant.
Identify the two factors that affect the magnitude of the gravitational force: the masses \(m_1\) and \(m_2\), and the distance \(r\) between their centers.
Understand that other factors such as electric charges, volumes, temperatures, or gravitational field direction do not appear in Newton's law of universal gravitation and thus do not determine the gravitational force magnitude.
Conclude that the correct factors determining the gravitational force magnitude are the two masses and the distance between their centers.
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