# Relationship between distance and gravitational force

1. Mar 3, 2011

### Davidjanas

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

If you double the distance between to masses, the gravitational force between them would:____

If you triple the distance between two masses, the gravitational force between them would be _______ the original force

If you Halve the distance between two masses the gravitational force between them would be ________ the original force

2. Relevant equations

None I guess?

3. The attempt at a solution

During this lab I found the inverse relationship between the distance and the gravitational force.

I think that that means the gravitational force would quarter if you double the distance between two masses. I'm not sure at all though.

PS: How do you straighten a graph that looks like this [PLAIN]http://www.monastyr.info/wp-content/uploads/cc/Inverse_Functions2.jpg [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
2. Mar 3, 2011

### Andrew Mason

How about: $$F = \frac{GmM}{r^2}$$

Just out of curiosity, how are you doing this in a lab?

I think you would be more sure if you look at the equation for gravitational force (above).

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
3. Mar 3, 2011

### Davidjanas

It's not a lab we're actually doing, it's purely theoretical. We found the the centripetal acceleration of satellites's based on their radii and Periods, using this data we have to graph the results, which show that the greater the Radius the slower the centripetal acceleration.

Using what I've found out from that relationship I have to answer the questions. However I'm not sure I fully understood the relationship.

I know that the units are not correct, I'm trying to explain the trend. Is that an inverse exponential? I'm not sure.

You may be more familiarized with the term "Linearize", although my teacher says to "straighten" I must do this to find the slope of the line of the data