Saturn's largest moon is Titan, shown below. Which of the following statements about Earth and Titan is true? (1 point) Responses The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is more than that between Earth and Saturn. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is more than that between Earth and Saturn. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Saturn and Titan. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Saturn and Titan. There is no gravitational force between Earth and Titan. There is no gravitational force between Earth and Titan. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Earth and Pluto. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Earth and Pluto.

1 answer

To analyze the gravitational forces mentioned in the statements, we need to consider the masses of the objects involved and the distances between them as dictated by Newton's law of universal gravitation.

  1. Gravitational force between Earth and Titan: This force can be calculated using the masses of Earth and Titan and the distance between them.

  2. Gravitational force between Earth and Saturn: This force involves the mass of Saturn, which is significantly larger than that of Titan, along with the distance from Earth to Saturn.

  3. Gravitational force between Earth and Pluto: The mass of Pluto is much smaller compared to both Titan and Saturn, but the distance from Earth to Pluto can vary as they orbit the Sun.

Now let's evaluate the statements:

  1. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is more than that between Earth and Saturn.

    • This is false. Saturn is massive, and the distance to Saturn is significant, but the gravitational influence due to Saturn’s mass is substantial.
  2. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is more than that between Earth and Saturn.

    • This is a repetition of the first statement and is also false.
  3. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Saturn and Titan.

    • This is true because while Titan is the largest moon of Saturn, the gravitational force between a planet (Saturn) and its moon (Titan) is generally much stronger than the force between Earth and Titan.
  4. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Earth and Saturn.

    • This statement is also true because of the significant mass of Saturn compared to Titan.
  5. There is no gravitational force between Earth and Titan.

    • This is false; there is indeed a gravitational force.
  6. The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Earth and Pluto.

    • This is generally false since the distance to Pluto is greater than Titan, and Titan has a larger mass than Pluto.

Based on this analysis, the most accurate statement would likely be:

  • The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Saturn and Titan.

Therefore, the correct option is: The gravitational force between Earth and Titan is less than that between Saturn and Titan.