If the distance between two objects is doubled, what happens to the gravitational force between them?
- AIt halves
- BIt becomes one-quarter
- CIt quadruples
- DMore than one of the above
- ENone of the above
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (b) It becomes one-quarter
Explanation
By Newton's law of gravitation, F = G m₁m₂ / r²: the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
Doubling the distance makes the force 1/2² = 1/4, one-quarter of its value.