A planet is orbiting a star. Which of the following statements is true for the acceleration and gravitational forces experienced by the star and the planet?
A) The acceleration of the planet is much more than the acceleration of the star, but the force on the star is the same but opposite the force on the planet.
B) The force on the star is much smaller than the force on the planet, but the accelerations are about equal.
C) The acceleration of the planet is much more than the acceleration of the star, and the force on the planet is much more than the force on the star.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force between the star and the planet is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction (Newton's third law). However, due to the planet's smaller mass, its acceleration is much greater than that of the star (Newton's second law).

A Planet Is Orbiting a Star