Chapter 7, Problem 1TC

The planet and its much less massive moon gravitationally attract each other. Compare the gravitational attraction between them from greatest to least.

To determine

The comparison of the gravitational attraction between the different planets and their moons.

Answer to Problem 1TC

The gravitational attraction of the planet B and planet C on the moon is maximum and the gravitational attraction of the planet D on the moon is least

Explanation of Solution

The gravitational attraction between different objects is proportional to product of the masses and the inversely related to the square of the separated distance between masses.

The gravitational attraction between the planet B on the moon is two times the gravitational attraction of the planet A because the distance between the Planet A and moon is same as the planet B and the moon, but the mass of the planet B is two times the mass of planet A.

The gravitational attraction of the plane C is four times the gravitational attraction of the planet D on the moon because the distance of the moon from planet D is two times the distance of the planet C from the moon.

The gravitational attraction of the planet B and planet C on the moon is same because the distance of both planets is same, but the mass of the planet B is two times of planet C and the mass of the moon for planet C is two times the mass of the moon for the planet B.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the gravitational attraction of the planet B and planet C on the moon is maximum and the gravitational attraction of the planet D on the moon is least