Gravitational Force: Tripling Distance - Factor 3 or 6?

In summary, gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass and it is affected by distance according to the inverse square law. Tripling the distance between objects decreases the force by a factor of 9, doubling the distance decreases the force by a factor of 4, and halving the distance increases the force by a factor of 4.
  • #1
chuffman
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Homework Statement


If you triple the distance between two objects the gravitational force will...
A. Increase by the factor of 3
B. decrease by a factor of 3
C. Decrease by a factor of 6
D. Increase by a factor of 9
E. decrease by a factor of 9


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Obviously it decreases but I'm just not sure I know what information I'm supposed to use to come to the right factor.
 
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  • #2
Newton's law of gravitation states that the force varies "inversely as the square of the distance".
 

FAQ: Gravitational Force: Tripling Distance - Factor 3 or 6?

What is gravitational force?

Gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass. It is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the sun and objects on Earth's surface.

How does distance affect gravitational force?

The force of gravity decreases as the distance between two objects increases. This is described by the inverse square law, which states that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects.

What does it mean to triple the distance in terms of gravitational force?

Tripling the distance between two objects will decrease the gravitational force by a factor of 9. This is because the inverse square law states that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

Is the factor of 3 or 6 used when tripling the distance in terms of gravitational force?

The factor used to describe the decrease in gravitational force when tripling the distance is 9. This is because the inverse square law states that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

How does the force of gravity change if the distance is doubled or halved?

If the distance between two objects is doubled, the gravitational force decreases by a factor of 4. If the distance is halved, the force increases by a factor of 4. This is again due to the inverse square law.

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