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 mass of objects decreases.
Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
The theory applies only to objects on Earth
The correct statement is: Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
The true statement about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases."
The correct statement is: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases."
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand Newton's theory of universal gravitation. According to Newton, every object in the universe exerts a gravitational force on every other object. The magnitude of this force depends on two factors: the mass of the objects involved and the distance between them.
To compare the other statements and determine the correct one, let's analyze them one by one:
1. Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects increases: This statement is incorrect. According to Newton's theory, as the distance between objects increases, the gravitational force decreases, not increases. The force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects.
2. Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects decreases: This statement is also incorrect. According to Newton's theory, the gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases. A greater mass results in a stronger gravitational attraction.
3. Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases: This statement is correct. As mentioned earlier, the force of gravity is directly proportional to the mass of the objects. An increase in mass leads to a greater gravitational force.
4. The theory applies only to objects on Earth: This statement is incorrect. Newton's theory of universal gravitation applies not only to objects on Earth but to any two objects in the universe that have mass.
Therefore, the correct statement is: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases."