For two bodies gravitationally interacting with each other, if you double each mass and halve the distance between them, by how much would the gravitational force change?
A)increase 8 times
B)increase 16 times
C)decrease 8 times
D)decrease 16 times

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force is proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Doubling each mass increases the force by 4 times (2x2), and halving the distance increases the force by 4 times (since (1/0.5)^2 = 4). Therefore, the force increases by 16 times (4x4).

For Two Bodies Gravitationally Interacting with Each Other, If You