Question

A stone dropped from a height falls towards the earth because

• A. The stone exerts a force of attraction on the earth
• B. The earth exerts force of gravity on the stone
• C. The stone attracts the earth towards itself
• D. All the above statements are true

Answer 1

The correct option is B The earth exerts force of gravity on the stone

If we drop a piece of stone from some height, the stone falls down towards the earth. Since the stone starts moving downwards (it is in motion),therefore a force must be acting on it. This force is due to attraction between the earth and the stone and it is called the gravitational force of earth (or gravity of earth). Thus, a stone dropped from a height falls towards the earth because the earth exerts a force of attraction (called gravity) on the stone and pulls it down.
Option A and C are also correct but they do not explain why the stone falls to the ground.

Hence, only option B is correct.