A space probe traveling from Earth to Mars is shown at the halfway point between the two (not to scale).
Two students are discussing their answer to the previous question.
Student 1: Since the space probe is exactly halfway between Earth and Mars, the strength of the gravitational forces would be the same since the distances are the same.
Student 2: You’re right that the distances are the same, but you’re forgetting about mass. The combined mass of the space probe and Earth is much bigger than the combined mass of the space probe and Mars. So, since the distances are the same, the strength of the gravitational force on the space probe by Earth has to be bigger than the strength of the gravitational force on the space probe by Mars.
Do you agree or disagree with either or bother of the students? Explain your reasoning.

This is because gravitational force is directly proportional to the product of the two masses involved and inversely proportional to the square of their distance apart. Since the space probe is the same distance from the Earth and Mars, the force on the space probe would now depend mainly on the magnitude of the masses of the Earth and Moon. Since the Earth is larger than the Mars, the gravitational force on the space probe due to the Earth is greater than that due to the Mars.