The distance of the star Vega from Earth is 1.6 million times greater than the distance of the Sun from Earth. Which of the following best describes the gravitational influence of Vega on Earth?
A)It is roughly equal to that of the Sun.
B)Its influence is greater than that of the Sun.
C)Its influence is small because of its distance.
D)It influences the magnitude of Earth's mass.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force between two objects decreases with the square of the distance between them. Therefore, despite Vega's potentially large mass, its vast distance from Earth means its gravitational influence on Earth is minimal compared to that of the much closer Sun.

The Distance of the Star Vega from Earth Is 1