Question

Calculate the force of attraction between two bodies each of mass lOOKg and 1m apart on the
surface of earth. Will the force of attraction be different if the same bodies are taken on the
moon, their separation remaining constant? Given: G = 6.67 x 10-11 N-m2/kg2

Answer 1

Question

Given:

$$\begin{array}{l} m_{1} = m_{2} = 100 \text{ kg} \\ r = 1 \text{ m} \\ G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11} \frac{N \cdot m^{2}}{kg^{2}} \\ \end{array}$$

Solution:

The force of attraction between two objects can be found by the formula:

$F = G \cdot \frac{m_{1} \cdot m_{2}}{r^{2}}$ , where $m_{1}$ - mass of the first object, $m_{2}$ - mass of the second object, $r$ - the distance between two objects and $G$ - gravitational constant.

So, we have:

$$F = G \cdot \frac{m_{1} \cdot m_{2}}{r^{2}} = 6.67 \times 10^{-11} \frac{N \cdot m^{2}}{kg^{2}} \cdot \frac{100 \text{ kg} \cdot 100 \text{ kg}}{(1 \text{ m})^{3}} = 6.67 \times 10^{-7} N.$$

The force of attraction on the Moon will remain the same because the masses don't change and G (gravitation constant) will also be the same.

Answer: $6.67 \times 10^{-7} N$.