As the distance between 2 objects increases, what happens to gravitational force?

Question

Chemistry

Santiago Callahan

14 August, 12:43

As the distance between 2 objects increases, what happens to gravitational force?

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Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Demetrius Choi · Answer 1

the force decreases.

Gaven Dunlap · Answer 2

Gravitational force decreases

Explanation:

One of Newton's remarkable discoveries was the law of universal gravitation, according to which if two bodies have mass, when they are close to each other there is a force of attraction between them. Thus, for example, the Earth attracts the Moon and the Sun to the Earth. For our purposes, the important thing about this law is that it tells us, first of all, that the force between the bodies depends on the distance between them. It does not matter to have two bodies very close to each other that are very separate. The greater the distance between the bodies, the smaller the force between them, since as the distance between two bodies is greater, the smaller the effect that one exerts on the other.

Second, the law of universal gravitation tells us how the force of distance depends. Suppose two bodies are at a distance of one meter and the force has a certain value. If the distance between these same bodies increases twice, that is to 2 m, then the force decreases to a quarter. If the distance increases to triple, that is to 3 m, the force decreases to the ninth part, and so on.

The fourth part of the force is equal to 1/4; but 4 = 2², that is, 2 raised to power 2; So the fourth part is equal to 1/2.

The ninth part of the force is equal to 1/9; but 9 = 3², that is, 3 raised to power 2; So the ninth part is equal to 1 / 3², etc. Consequently: if the distance increases 2 times, the force decreases 1/2 times; if the distance increases 3 times, the force decreases 1 / 3² times; if the distance increases 4 times, the force decreases 1/4 times, and so on.

The latter is expressed by saying that the decrease in the value of the force is like the square of the distance. In abbreviated form, using mathematical language the above is expressed by saying that force depends inversely proportional to the square of distance. Conversely it means that increasing distance decreases force