Directions: Use the picture below of objects at different distances apart to answer the question.

Question

1 is 10 g on each side pointing to each other and they are far apart
2 is 10 g on each side pointing to each other and they are close together
3 is 2 g on each side pointing to each other and they are close together
4 is 2 g on each side pointing to each other and they are far apart

Which of the pictures shows the least gravitational force and why?

(1 point)
Responses

Picture I because the objects have large mass and more distance between them
Picture I because the objects have large mass and more distance between them

Picture II because they have larger mass and less distance between them
Picture II because they have larger mass and less distance between them

Picture III because the objects have less distance between them
Picture III because the objects have less distance between them

Picture IV because the objects have smaller mass and larger distance between them

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Picture IV because the objects have smaller mass and larger distance between them.

This is because gravitational force depends on both the masses of the objects and the distance between them. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the force is directly proportional to the product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. In Picture IV, both the masses (2 g) are smaller compared to the other pictures, and they are also further apart, leading to the least gravitational force.