If the distance from the center of the Earth is doubled, how does the gravitatio
Practice Questions
Q1
If the distance from the center of the Earth is doubled, how does the gravitational field strength change?
It doubles.
It halves.
It becomes zero.
It quadruples.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the distance from the center of the Earth is doubled, how does the gravitational field strength change?
Step 1: Understand that gravitational field strength depends on distance from the center of the Earth.
Step 2: Know that if you double the distance from the center of the Earth, you are moving further away.
Step 3: Remember the rule: gravitational field strength decreases with the square of the distance.
Step 4: If the distance is doubled, calculate the effect: (1 / (2^2)) = 1 / 4.
Step 5: Conclude that the gravitational field strength becomes 1/4 of what it was before.
Gravitational Field Strength – The gravitational field strength (g) is the force per unit mass experienced by a small test mass placed in a gravitational field, and it varies inversely with the square of the distance from the center of the mass creating the field.
Inverse Square Law – This law states that the strength of a physical quantity (like gravity) decreases with the square of the distance from the source, meaning if the distance is doubled, the effect is reduced to a quarter.
