Which statement best describes Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation?
A.Large objects, like Earth and the Sun, attract other objects everywhere in the universe.
B.Gravity is a kind of magnetic force between objects and Earth.
C.Gravity is the result of the curvature of space around a massive object.
D.Gravity exists between any two objects and depends on their masses and the distance between them.
D - because F = G Mm/d^2
Newton did not know about Einstein
The correct answer is D. Gravity exists between any two objects and depends on their masses and the distance between them.
To arrive at this answer, we can break down the options and analyze them one by one:
A. Large objects, like Earth and the Sun, attract other objects everywhere in the universe.
This statement refers to the concept of gravitational attraction, which is a key aspect of Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. Large objects do exert a gravitational force on smaller objects, but it is not limited to just large objects like Earth and the Sun. Gravity exists between any two objects, regardless of their size. So, while there is some truth to this statement, it is not the most accurate.
B. Gravity is a kind of magnetic force between objects and Earth.
This statement is incorrect. Gravity is not a kind of magnetic force. Gravity and magnetism are separate fundamental forces in physics, and they operate differently. So, we can eliminate this option.
C. Gravity is the result of the curvature of space around a massive object.
This statement refers to the gravitational theory proposed by Albert Einstein, known as General Relativity. While this theory is an alternative to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and provides a deeper understanding of gravity, it is not the best description of Newton's Law itself. Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation does not involve the curvature of space. Therefore, this option is not the most appropriate choice.
D. Gravity exists between any two objects and depends on their masses and the distance between them.
This statement accurately represents Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. According to this law, every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force that is directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. So, this option is the best description of Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, making it the correct answer.
In summary, the correct answer is D. Gravity exists between any two objects and depends on their masses and the distance between them.