Questions: Question 2 20 pts Choose the incorrect statement. The gravitational force exerted on a satellite by Earth depends on Earth's mass. depends on the satellite's speed. depends on the satellites mass. is directed toward Earth's center.

Solution Steps

The gravitational force between two objects is given by Newton's law of universal gravitation:

\[ F = \frac{G \cdot m_1 \cdot m_2}{r^2} \]

where:

• \( F \) is the gravitational force,
• \( G \) is the gravitational constant,
• \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \) are the masses of the two objects (in this case, Earth and the satellite),
• \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two masses.

1. Depends on Earth's mass: The gravitational force depends on Earth's mass (\( m_1 \)), as seen in the formula. This statement is correct.

2. Depends on the satellite's speed: The gravitational force does not depend on the satellite's speed. It depends only on the masses and the distance between them. This statement is incorrect.

3. Depends on the satellite's mass: The gravitational force depends on the satellite's mass (\( m_2 \)), as seen in the formula. This statement is correct.

4. Is directed toward Earth's center: The gravitational force is always directed toward the center of mass of the objects involved, which in this case is Earth's center. This statement is correct.

Final Answer