Two objects have masses of $32 MG$ and $36 MG$ . How much does the gravitational potential energy between the objects change if the distance between them changes from $42 m$ to $24 m$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-04-14T14:31:14

Increases by 3.062 times.

$F=G(m_1m_2)/(r^2)$

G is a constant, $m_1 and m_2$ do not change, so only the distance between the two masses has any effect on the force of attraction.

Originally the masses are 42 m apart, so the force is found by dividing by $42^2$ .

The new distance is only 24 m, so force is found by dividing by $24^2$ . Notice that the force is going to be larger (dividing by a smaller number).

$(42^2)/(24^2) = 3.062$ times larger.

Two objects have masses of 32 MG32 MG and 36 MG36 MG. How much does the gravitational potential energy between the objects change if the distance between them changes from 42 m42 m to 24 m24 m?