A particle might be placed Rank these situations according to the magnitude of the gravitational force on the particle, least to greatest.

Question

A particle might be placed  Rank these situations according to the magnitude of the gravitational force on the particle, least to greatest.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnitude of the gravitational force on a particle depends on the mass of the two objects and their distance apart. 
1) If the particle is placed at the center of the Earth, the force of gravity acting on it will be towards the center of the Earth and will be equal to the weight of the particle. This force will be the same for all situations, as the mass of the Earth does not change. 
2) If the particle is placed at a distance of one Earth radius from the center of the Earth (i.e. on the surface), the force of gravity acting on it will be less than at the center of the Earth, as the distance between the particle and the center of the Earth has increased. 
3) If the particle is placed between the Earth and the Moon, the gravitational force acting on it will be less than at the surface of the Earth, as the mass of the Moon is much smaller than that of the Earth. 
4) If the particle is placed between two massive objects (such as two stars), the force of gravity acting on it will be the greatest, as the mass of the objects is much larger than that of the Earth or Moon. 
Therefore, situations 1 and 2 tie for the least magnitude of gravitational force, followed by situation 3, and then situation 4 with the greatest magnitude of gravitational force.

A Particle Might Be Placed Rank These Situations According