Question

Which of these is NOT a statement of Newton’s law of universal gravitation?

Answer 1

Answer on Question#40356 – Physics – Mechanics | Kinematics | Dynamics

Which of these is NOT a statement of Newton's law of universal gravitation?

a. gravitational force between two particles is attractive as well as repulsive

b. gravitational force acts along the line joining the two particles

c. gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the particles

d. gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the particles apart

Solution:

Newton's law of universal gravitation:

$$F = G \frac {m _ {1} m _ {2}}{r ^ {2}}$$

The gravitational force is always positive $(m_1 m_2 > 0; r^2 > 0 \Rightarrow G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} > 0)$,

therefore the answer A is wrong, because gravitational force between two particles is always attractive.

Answer: a)