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Two objects are moved three times further apart. What happens to the gravitational force between them?
AIt becomes three times smaller
BIt becomes nine times larger
CIt becomes three times larger
DIt becomes nine times smaller
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It becomes nine times smaller
1. Gravitational force gets weaker as two objects move apart.
2. Doubling the distance makes the force four times smaller.
3. Tripling the distance makes the force nine times smaller.
4. The objects here are moved three times further apart.
5. So the force between them becomes nine times smaller.
6. It cannot grow larger, because greater distance always weakens the pull.
_Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 7 (CC BY 4.0), Gravity_