Question 15 Marks
If the distance between two masses is increased by a factor of $5,$ by what factor would the mass of one of them have to be altered to maintain the same gravitational force$?$ Would this be an increase or decrease in the mass$?$
Answer
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Distance between two masses is increased $s.t.$ new distance is $=5 \mathrm{~d}$
New gravitational force $F_1=F$
Let on of the mass is changed to $m_1$ so as to maintain the same gravitational force.
$\mathrm{F}_1=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{D}^2}$
$\mathrm{D}=5 \mathrm{~d}$
$\mathrm{~F}=\mathrm{F}_1$
$\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m} \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{~d}^2}=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{D}^2}$
$\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m} \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{~d}^2}=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{25 \mathrm{~d}^2}$
$\frac{\mathrm{~m}_1}{\mathrm{~m}}=25$
$\mathrm{~m}_1=25 \mathrm{~m}$
Hence one of the masses should be increased by $25$ times in order to have the same gravitational force.
Distance between two masses is increased $s.t.$ new distance is $=5 \mathrm{~d}$
New gravitational force $F_1=F$
Let on of the mass is changed to $m_1$ so as to maintain the same gravitational force.
$\mathrm{F}_1=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{D}^2}$
$\mathrm{D}=5 \mathrm{~d}$
$\mathrm{~F}=\mathrm{F}_1$
$\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m} \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{~d}^2}=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{D}^2}$
$\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m} \times \mathrm{M}}{\mathrm{~d}^2}=\mathrm{G} \times \frac{\mathrm{m}_1 \times \mathrm{M}}{25 \mathrm{~d}^2}$
$\frac{\mathrm{~m}_1}{\mathrm{~m}}=25$
$\mathrm{~m}_1=25 \mathrm{~m}$
Hence one of the masses should be increased by $25$ times in order to have the same gravitational force.

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