Would it be true that if you double the distance of an astronaut from a planet, the gravitational pull between them would be half as strong?

Question

Jada Simon

Physics

31 December, 22:44

Would it be true that if you double the distance of an astronaut from a planet, the gravitational pull between them would be half as strong?

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Ben Watson · Answer 1

Yes, that would be the case, because the gravity is pulling you towards the planet, so doubling the the distance cuts the gravitational pull between them in half.

Barbara · Answer 2

Yes

Explanation:

Newton's law of universal gravitation is usually stated that every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their masses (m1 and m2) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers (r).

F = Gm1m2/r²

This is a general physical law derived from

empirical observations by what Isaac Newton called inductive reasoning.

when distance is doubled the gravitational force will be reduced by quarter not half.