If the distance between the earth and the sun were twice what it is now, the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the sun would be:

Correct option is D

Correct Answer: D) one fourth of what it is now

Explanation:
The gravitational force between two objects is governed by Newton's Law of Gravitation, which states:

F=G⋅m1⋅m2 \r²

Where:

• F is the gravitational force,
• G is the gravitational constant,
• m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects (Earth and Sun in this case),
• r is the distance between the two objects.

The gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r²).

If the distance (r) between the Earth and the Sun is doubled (2r), the force becomes:

F′=G⋅m1⋅m2/(2r)²=G⋅m1⋅m2/4r²=1/4F

Thus, the gravitational force would be one fourth of what it is now.

Information Booster:
● The Sun’s gravitational pull is crucial in maintaining the Earth's orbit around it.
● The inverse-square law applies to gravitational, electrical, and light intensity forces.
● Doubling the distance reduces the gravitational force by a factor of 4, while halving the distance increases it by a factor of 4.
● The gravitational force between the Earth and Sun ensures the Earth remains in a stable elliptical orbit.
● The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is about 149.6 million kilometers, also known as 1 Astronomical Unit (AU).