Which of the following statements about the accelerations and gravitational forces between a planet and a star is true?
A)Acceleration is equal and opposite; the planet feels more force more than the star.
B)Forces are equal and opposite; the planet is accelerated more than the star.
C)Forces are equal and opposite; the star is accelerated more than the planet.
D)Accelerations and forces are both equal and opposite.
E)Acceleration is equal and opposite; the star feels more force more than the planet.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that the gravitational forces between two bodies, such as a planet and a star, are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. However, according to Newton's second law, F=ma, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting upon it and inversely proportional to its mass. Since the star has a much greater mass than the planet, the same force will result in a smaller acceleration for the star compared to the planet. Therefore, while the forces are equal and opposite, the planet is accelerated more than the star due to its smaller mass.

Which of the Following Statements About the Accelerations and Gravitational