Question

According to Newton's law of gravitation, the apple and the earth experience equal and opposite forces due to gravitation. But it is the apple that falls towards the earth and not vice-versa. Why?

• A. $a_{apple}>a_{earth}$
• B. $a_{apple}<a_{earth}$
• C. $a_{apple}=a_{earth}$
• D. cant say
  

Answer 1

The correct option is A $a_{apple}>a_{earth}$

According to Newton's third law of motion, the force with which the earth is attracted towards the apple is equal to the force with which earth attracts the apple. However, the mass of the earth is extremely large as compared to that of apple. So acceleration of the earth is very small and is not noticeable

F=$M{a}_{earth}=m{a}_{apple}$ [M=mass of the Earth, m=mass of the apple]

=> $\frac{a_{apple}}{a_{earth}}=\frac{M}{m}>1$ [Mass of the Earth is very large than the mass of the apple]

$a_{apple}>a_{earth}$