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26 December, 14:45

Suppose earth were moved to a distance from the sun equal to 4 AU. How much weaker would the sun's gravitational force on earth be? Why?

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  1. 26 December, 14:52
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    Actual distance between earth and sun: 1 AU

    Supposed distance: 4 AU

    Given that the gravitational force is inverse to the square of the distance that separate the masses, this would be weaker if the distance is greater.

    Here you hava a mathematical demonstration:

    Gravitational force α 1/r^2 (α is used to indicate proportionality)

    Actual Force / [1 / (1AU) ^2] = New Force / [1 / (4AU) ^2]

    => New Force = [1 / 16 AU^2 ] * Actual Force / [1 / 1 AU^2]

    New Force = Actual Force / 16

    Then, the new force would be weaker; exactly it would be one sixteenth of the actual force.
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