Question

Two objects have the same mass and are located near each other at a distance $r$. If the mass of one of the objects is doubled and the mass of the other object is tripled, find out the change in gravitational attraction between them?

• A. Decrease by a factor of $1/6$
• B. Decrease by a factor of $2/3$
• C. Increase by a factor of $3/2$
• D. Increase by a factor of $5$
• E. Increase by a factor of $6$

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Increase by a factor of $6$

Gravitational force between two objects is given by

$F=\frac{G{m}_1{m}_2}{r^2}$

Hence, In first case, the gravitational force of attraction is given by, $F_1=\frac{Gmm}{r^2}$

In second case, the gravitational force of attraction is given by, $F_2=\frac{G\left(2m\right)\left(3m\right)}{r^2}=6F_1$

Hence, the gravitational force of attraction increases by a factor of $6$.