If the distance between two objects is increased by two times, the gravitational force between them will
remain same
increase by two times
decrease by two times
decrease by four times
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2020
According to Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, the force (F) between two objects with masses m₁ and m₂ separated by a distance (r) is given by F = G(m₁m₂)/r², where G is the gravitational constant. The force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects. If the distance is increased by two times (r’ = 2r), the new force (F’) will be F’ = G(m₁m₂)/(r’)² = G(m₁m₂)/(2r)² = G(m₁m₂)/(4r²) = (1/4) * G(m₁m₂)/r² = (1/4) * F. Thus, the force decreases to one-fourth of its original value.