How Does Moving an Object Farther from a Small Planet Affect Its Gravitational Force?

What happens to the gravitational force exerted on an object by a small planet when the object is moved farther away from the planet's surface?

Understanding Gravitational Force and Distance

Gravitational force is the attractive force that exists between two objects with mass. The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them. In the case of a small planet exerting a gravitational force on an object, the force decreases as the distance between them increases. When the object is initially 500 km above the planet's surface, the total distance from the center of the planet (radius) is 1000 km (radius) + 500 km = 1500 km. The gravitational force on the object at this distance is 100 N. However, if the object is moved 280 km farther from the planet, the new distance becomes 1500 km + 280 km = 1780 km. The gravitational force between the object and the planet can be calculated using the formula for inverse square law: F_new = F_old * (old distance^2) / (new distance^2) F_new = 100 N * (1500 km)^2 / (1780 km)^2 Calculating this gives us approximately 71 N. Therefore, when the object is moved 280 km farther from the planet, the gravitational force on it decreases to about 71 N. Thus, the correct answer to the given options is b) 71 N.
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