How does distance affect gravitational force between two objects?

• A. Gravitational force remains constant regardless of distance
• B. Gravitational force increases with distance
• C. Gravitational force decreases with distance
• D. Gravitational force acts only at short distances

Answer: (C)

Gravitational force is governed by the law of universal gravitation, which states that the force between two masses is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This means that as the distance between two objects increases, the gravitational force acting between them decreases.

When one object moves further away from another, the strength of the gravitational attraction diminishes. This relationship can be represented mathematically by the formula:

[ F = \frac{G \cdot m_1 \cdot m_2}{r^2} ]

Here, (F) is the gravitational force, (G) is the gravitational constant, (m_1) and (m_2) are the masses of the objects, and (r) is the distance between the centers of the two objects. As (r) (distance) increases, (F) (gravitational force) decreases because the (r^2) term in the denominator becomes larger.

This understanding aligns with the correct answer that gravitational force decreases with distance, highlighting a fundamental feature of how gravity operates in the universe.