Question

what happens to the force of attraction between two objects when their masses are halved

Answer 1

F = Gm₁m₂/r²

F' = $\frac{G\frac{m_{1}} {2}\frac{m_2}{2} } {r^2}$

= $\frac{Gm_1m_2} {4r^2}$

= $\frac{1}{4}$$\frac{Gm_1m_2} {r^2}$

= $\frac{F}{4}$

∴ if masses are reduced to half then the force is reduced to one by forth.

Answer 2

Answer:The force of gravitational attraction between the two bodies of mass (M) and (m) is F=G

r

2

Mm

​

.

Now, If masses of both objects are halved without changing distance between them or M= 2m

and m= 2m

Now, F=G 4r2

Mm

​

.

Thus, force becomes one-fourth as we reduce the masses to half without altering the distances.

Explanation: