Question

Earth is subject not only to the gravitational force of the Moon but also to the gravitational pull of the Sun. However, Earth is much farther away from the Sun than it is from the Moon. In fact, the center of Earth is at an average distance of 1.5×1011m from the center of the Sun. Given that the mass of the Sun is 1.99×1030kg, which of the following statements is correct?

A. The force exerted on Earth by the Sun is weaker than the corresponding force exerted by the Moon.
B. The force exerted on Earth by the Sun is stronger than the corresponding force exerted by the Moon.
C. The force exerted on Earth by the Sun is of the same order of magnitude of the corresponding force exerted by the Moon.

Answer 1

Answer:

option (B)

Explanation:

The gravitational force on earth depends on the mass of sun and the distance of sun from earth.

As the mass of sun is much more than the mass of moon, so the gravitational force of sun on earth is much more than the force on earth due to the moon.

The distance does not matter because the mass of sun is much more.