Question

read the statements below.

1. increase the mass of the two objects
2. increase the distance between the two objects
3. decrease the mass of the two objects

how could you decrease the amount of gravity between the two objects in the diagram below?
1 only
1 or 2
2 or 3
2 only

Explanation:

To determine how to decrease gravity between two objects, we use the law of universal gravitation: \( F = G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2} \), where \( F \) is gravitational force, \( m_1, m_2 \) are masses, \( r \) is distance, and \( G \) is the gravitational constant.

• Statement 1: Increasing mass (\( m_1, m_2 \)) increases \( F \), so it does not decrease gravity.
• Statement 2: Increasing distance (\( r \)) decreases \( F \) (since \( r^2 \) is in the denominator), so this decreases gravity.
• Statement 3: Decreasing mass (\( m_1, m_2 \)) decreases \( F \), so this also decreases gravity.

Thus, statements 2 or 3 (increasing distance or decreasing mass) will decrease the gravitational force.

Answer:

2 or 3