1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Physics
  4. According to Newton's law of gravitation, the magnitude of the force F on point masses m1 and m2 (say) is given by | F |=(G m1 m2/r2). I. This equation is not directly applicable for the gravitational force between extended object (like the earth) and a point mass. II. This equation can be directly applied for gravitational force between an extended object and a point mass. III. The equations can be applied to find the gravitational force between an extended object and a point mass provided r is the distance of the point mass from the geometric centre of the extended object. IV. None of the above Which of the following statement(s) about this equation is/are correct?

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Q. According to Newton's law of gravitation, the magnitude of the force $F$ on point masses $m_{1}$ and $m_{2}$ (say) is given by $| F |=\frac{G m_{1} m_{2}}{r^{2}}$.
I. This equation is not directly applicable for the gravitational force between extended object (like the earth) and a point mass.
II. This equation can be directly applied for gravitational force between an extended object and a point mass.
III. The equations can be applied to find the gravitational force between an extended object and a point mass provided $r$ is the distance of the point mass from the geometric centre of the extended object.
IV. None of the above
Which of the following statement(s) about this equation is/are correct?

Gravitation

Solution:

For the gravitational force between an extended object (like the earth) and a point mass, the Newton's universal law of gravitation is not directly applicable. So, statement I is correct but II and III are incorrect.