Questions: b. How would the gravitational force between the two cars change if you pushed them farther apart? (1 point)
Transcript text: b. How would the gravitational force between the two cars change if you pushed them farther apart? (1 point)
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understand the Gravitational Force Formula
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, and \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two objects.
Step 2: Analyze the Effect of Increasing Distance
According to the formula, the gravitational force \( F \) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance \( r \). This means that as the distance \( r \) increases, the gravitational force \( F \) decreases.
Step 3: Apply the Concept to the Scenario
If the two cars are pushed farther apart, the distance \( r \) between them increases. As a result, the gravitational force between the two cars will decrease.
Final Answer
The gravitational force between the two cars will decrease.