8
QuizMultiple Choice

Universal Law of Gravitation

Question 8 • Crowley Credit Recovery Physics A

A baseball has a mass of 0.145 kilograms, and a bowling ball has a mass of 6.8 kilograms. What is the gravitational force between them if their centers are 0.5 m apart?

Answer
A
1.0 × 10–13 N
B
1.3 × 10–10 N
C
2.6 × 10–10 N
D
1.1 × 10–8 N

Explanation

Use Newton’s law of universal gravitation: F = Gm₁m₂/r². Substituting the values gives F = (6.67 × 10⁻¹¹)(0.145)(6.8)/(0.5)² ≈ 2.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ N. The gravitational force is therefore 2.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ N, choice C.

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