If the distance between the Earth and Sun were cut in half,the gravitational force between these two objects would
A) decrease by 4.
B) decrease by 2.
C) increase by 2.
D) increase by 4.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. If the distance between the Earth and Sun were cut in half, the distance in the denominator would be squared, resulting in a decrease of 1/4 (or 0.25). However, the masses of the Earth and Sun would remain the same. Therefore, the overall effect would be an increase in gravitational force by a factor of 1/0.25 or 4. So, the correct answer is D, increase by 4.

If the Distance Between the Earth and Sun Were Cut