The earth and the moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the earth attract the moon, with a force that is greater, or smaller, or the same as the force with which the moon attracts the earth ? Why?
According to Newton's third law, these two forces are equal and opposite. The earth attracts the moon with the same force as the force with which the moon attracts the earth.
What is the importance of universal law of gravitation?
The universal law of gravitation successfully explained many phenomena occurring in nature.
Some of these phenomena are as follows:
1. The force that binds us to the earth.
2. The motion of the moon around the earth.
3. The motion of planets around the sun.
4. The tides due to the moon and the sun.
What is the acceleration of free fall?
If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?
According to Newton's third law, the moon attracts earth with a force equal to that with which the earth attracts the moon. But, the mass of Earth is much massive than that of the moon. So, the acceleration produced in the earth,
(a ∝1/m)
is not noticeable.
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