Gravitational attraction is the force that pulls objects toward each other. The strength of this force depends on two things: the masses of the objects and the distance between them. The more massive an object is, the stronger its gravitational pull. For example, Earth has a much larger mass than an apple, which is why Earth’s gravity pulls the apple toward the ground when you drop it.

Question

Gravitational force also gets weaker as the distance between objects increases. This is why objects on Earth fall toward the ground, but objects farther away, like the moon or planets, experience a weaker pull from Earth's gravity. Even though the force is weaker at greater distances, gravity still acts on all objects, no matter how far apart they are.

Question #1: According to the passage, the strength of the gravitational force depends on which two things?

(1 point)
Responses

The masses of the objects and the distance between them
The masses of the objects and the distance between them

How long the objects have been there and how far they are
How long the objects have been there and how far they are
Question 2
Question #2:

Use the passage to help you answer this question.

True or False: When the force is weaker at greater distances, gravity still acts on all objects, no matter how far apart they are.

(1 point)
Responses

True
True

False
False
Question 3
Question #3: The diagram shows Earth and an apple experiencing gravitational attraction. Why does the apple fall toward Earth instead of Earth moving toward the apple?

Answer 1

Question #1: According to the passage, the strength of the gravitational force depends on which two things?

Response: The masses of the objects and the distance between them

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Question #2: Use the passage to help you answer this question.

True or False: When the force is weaker at greater distances, gravity still acts on all objects, no matter how far apart they are.

Response: True

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Question #3: The diagram shows Earth and an apple experiencing gravitational attraction. Why does the apple fall toward Earth instead of Earth moving toward the apple?

The apple falls toward Earth instead of Earth moving toward the apple because the mass of Earth is vastly greater than that of the apple. While both objects exert a gravitational force on each other, the immense mass of Earth results in a much stronger gravitational pull. Consequently, the apple accelerates toward Earth, while the movement of Earth is negligible due to its larger mass and the resulting gravitational attraction between the two objects.