Question

Which is greater the attraction of the earth for a pound of lead or the attraction of the pound of lead for the earth?

Answer 1

m = mass of pound of lead

M = mass of earth

G = universal gravitational constant

r = distance between the centers of earth and pound of lead

F = gravitational force of attraction between earth and pound of lead

force of attraction between earth and pound of lead is given as

F = GMm/r²

so calculating the force of gravitational attraction by earth on pound of lead  or calculating the force of gravitational attraction by pound of lead on earth , the formula remain same .

hence the magnitude of two forces will be same . but the directions will be opposite.

hence they exerts equal force on each other