What do you think would happen to the force if the distance is cut in half and each of the masses is also cut in half

Question

Joslyn Miles

Physics

7 September, 17:37

What do you think would happen to the force if the distance is cut in half and each of the masses is also cut in half

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Answers (1)

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Jacquelyn · Answer 1

The formula for the force of gravity has (M₁ · M₂ / D²) in it.

After the changes, the new force will have (0.5M₁ · 0.5M₂ / (0.5D) ²).

We can separate the new numbers from the original force, like this:

(0.5M₁ · 0.5M₂ / (0.5D) ²)

= (0.5 · 0.5 / (0.5) ²) times (M₁ · M₂ / D²)

The first factor boils down to ' 1 '. So, those changes would

leave the strength of the force unchanged.

That's what I think.