Question

The mass of the moon is about $1.2\%$ the mass of the earth. Compared to the gravitational force the earth exerts on the moon, the gravitational force the moon exerts on the earth

• A. Is the same
• B. Is smaller
• C. Is greater
• D. Varies with its phase

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Is the same

Explanation:

In case of Option A:

Note that the gravitational force of attraction between two objects is,

$F=\frac{G{m}_1{m}_2}{r^2}$, Here $G$ is the gravitational constant, $m_1,m_2$are the masses of the bodies and $r$ is the distance between them.

1. The masses of the two bodies that are subject to this force of attraction.
2. Two masses will have an equal distance between them. Because both bodies are contributing to the attraction, the gravitational force will be equal for both.
3. A force that acts in both directions is gravity. Each body drawn by this force of attraction uses the same forces to draw another body.
4. Therefore, the forces the moon exerts on the earth will be the same because gravitational force depends on the product of the masses and their separation from one another.

Hence, the correct option is A.