Question

Which of the following statements regarding gravitational force existing between two bodies is true?

• A. The first body exerts attractive force on the second body while the second body exerts repulsive force on the first body
• B. The gravitational force is zero when they are kept in vacuum
• C. Force exerted by the first body on the second is not equal to the force exerted by the second body on the first
• D. Force exerted by the first body on the second body is equal to the force exerted by the second body on the first

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Force exerted by the first body on the second body is equal to the force exerted by the second body on the first

According to the universal law of gravitation, every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The force is along the line joining the centers of two objects.

Therefore, the force exerted by the first body on the second body is equal to the force exerted by the second body on the first.