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.
Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
The statement that is true about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases."
To determine which statement about Newton's theory of universal gravitation is true, we need to recall the basic principles of the theory.
Newton's theory of universal gravitation states that every object in the universe attracts every other object 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 analyze each statement to see which one aligns with the theory:
1) Gravitational force increases as the distance between objects increases.
According to Newton's theory, the gravitational force actually decreases as the distance between objects increases. This relationship is represented by the inverse square law, which states that the gravitational force decreases by the square of the distance.
2) Gravitational force increases as mass of objects decreases.
According to Newton's theory, the gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the objects. Therefore, if the mass of objects decreases, the force between them will also decrease.
3) Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases.
According to Newton's theory, this statement is true. The gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses. As the mass of one or both objects increases, the force between them will also increase.
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. It describes the gravitational force between any two objects, regardless of whether they are on Earth or in space.
Therefore, the correct statement is: "Gravitational force increases as the mass of objects increases."