The gravitational force between Pluto and Charon is 3.61 × 1018 N. Pluto has a mass of 1.3 × 1022 kg, which is only slightly greater than Charon’s mass of 1.6 × 1021 kg.

Use Newton’s law of gravitation, F = Gm₁m₂/r², and solve for distance: r = √(Gm₁m₂/F). Substituting the values gives r = √[(6.67 × 10⁻¹¹)(1.3 × 10²²)(1.6 × 10²¹)/(3.61 × 10¹⁸)] ≈ √(3.84 × 10¹⁴) ≈ 2.0 × 10⁷ m. Therefore, the distance is choice A, 2.0 × 10⁷ m.

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