Moderate

A moon of mass 'm' orbits a planet of mass 100 m. Let the strength of the gravitational force exerted by the planet on the moon be denoted by F1, and let the strength of the gravitational force exerted by the moon on the planet be F2. Which of the following is true?

Correct answer: E. F1 is equal to F2

  • A. F1 is ten times greater than F2
  • B. F1 is ten times smaller than F2
  • C. F2 is ten times greater than F1
  • D. F2 is ten times smaller than F1
  • E. F1 is equal to F2

Explanation

The gravitational force between two objects is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. Since the mass of the planet is 100 times the mass of the moon, the strength of the gravitational force exerted by the planet on the moon will be much greater than the strength of the gravitational force exerted by the moon on the planet. However, the forces will still be equal in magnitude due to Newton's third law.

Last updated

About Force and Motion

Displacement, velocity and acceleration describe motion, including the horizontal and vertical components of projectile motion. The chapter connects these quantities with Newton's laws, momentum and impulse, then applies conservation of momentum to collisions, distinguishing elastic collisions from inelastic ones.

Practise Force and Motion

1,416 free Force and Motion MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Physics questions like this

Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions