7. Which of the following statements about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is true?
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1 point
Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects increases.
Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases.
Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects decreases.
The theory applies only to objects on Earth.
The correct statement is: Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases.
The correct statement about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is that gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases.
To determine which statement about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is true, we need to understand the basics of this theory. Newton's theory of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.
Now, let's evaluate each statement:
Statement 1: "Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects increases."
This statement is false. According to Newton's theory of universal gravitation, the gravitational force decreases as the distance between objects increases. This is because the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
Statement 2: "Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases."
This statement is also false. In Newton's theory, the gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases. The force becomes stronger as the objects get closer to each other because the distance in the denominator becomes smaller.
Statement 3: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects decreases."
This statement is false. According to Newton's theory, the gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the objects. Therefore, as the mass of either object decreases, the gravitational force will decrease.
Statement 4: "The theory applies only to objects on Earth."
This statement is false. Newton's theory of universal gravitation applies to all objects in the universe, not just those on Earth. It describes the gravitational interaction between any two objects, regardless of their location or nature.
Based on the explanations above, the correct statement is: "Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects decreases."