Question

Question 75:
A stone and the earth attract each other with an equal and opposite force. Why then we see only the stone falling towards the earth but not the earth rising towards the stone ?

Lakhmir Singh Physics Class 9

Answer 1

Answer:

because gravity depends on the mass of objects. the mass of the earth is more than the stone

so, stone is attracted towards the earth

Answer 2

Explanation:

Let mass of the earth be = M

Let the acceleration of the earth be = a

F = ma = Ma'  thus,

m < M  and a> a'

As the acceleration of the stone is very much greater than the acceleration of the Earth, we find that only the stone is moving.

A stone's mass is very tiny, because of which a big acceleration is produced in it by the gravitational force. The stone is seen falling toward the earth due to large acceleration of stone. However, the earth's mass is very big due to which the same gravitational force in earth generates very little acceleration that can be observed. Thus, we do not see the earth rising up towards the stone.