Question

Which of the following would cause the greatest decrease in gravitational force between the earth and the moon?



an increase in the earth's mass
an increase in the moon's mass
an increase in the distance between the earth and the moon
a decrease in the distance between the earth and the moon

Answer 1

since the force is inversely proportional to the distance squared, increasing the distance will cause the greatest decrease in force.

assuming all the proposed changes have the same scale factor.

Answer 2

I think it might be an increase in the moon's mass because the moon rotates around the earth, because the earth has more mass also controling more gravitational pull toward the moon.