A planet has a mass of about 6.4 x 1023 kg, and its moon has a mass of about 9.6 x 1015 kg. if the magnitude of the gravitational force between the two bodies is 4.6 x 1015 n, how far apart are the planet and its moon?

a. 9.4 x 106

c. 4.6 x 109

b. 2.6 x 1015

d. 1.2 x 102

This can be solve using the law of gravitation:

F = G (m1*m2) / r^2

where:

· F is the force between the masses;

· G is the gravitational constant (6.674*10 - 11 N · (m/kg) 2);

· m1 is the first mass;

· m2 is the second mass;

· r is the distance between the centers of the masses.

4.6x10^15 N = (6.674*10-11 N · (m/kg) 2) (6.4x10^23 kg) (9.6x10^15 kg) / r^2

Solving for r = 9.4 x10^6 m