Question

1. The gravitational force between 2 objects is 54N. If the distance between them is tripled, what will the force be? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.If the distance is 2 times closer, what happens to the force? 

Answer 1

The law of Universal Gravitation says

$$F=G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2}\sim\frac{1}{r^2}$$

Hence, if the distance between objects is tripled, the force will be

$$F=\frac{54\:\rm N}{3^2}=6\:\rm N$$

$$F=\frac{54\:\rm N}{(1/2)^2}=216\:\rm N$$