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e. You pat your friend on the back f. A wave hits a rocky shore 13. Which exerts more force, the Earth pulling on the moon or the moon pulling on the Earth? Explain.

Ask by Norris Bryant. in the United States
Mar 14,2025

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Answer

The Earth and the Moon exert equal forces on each other.

Solution

1. According to Newton’s Third Law of Motion, whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first. This means the forces always come in pairs. 2. In the Earth–Moon system, the gravitational force that the Earth exerts on the Moon is given by \[ F = G \frac{m_{\text{Earth}} \, m_{\text{Moon}}}{r^2} \] where \(G\) is the gravitational constant, \(m_{\text{Earth}}\) and \(m_{\text{Moon}}\) are the masses of the Earth and Moon respectively, and \(r\) is the distance between their centers. 3. By Newton’s Third Law, the gravitational force that the Moon exerts on the Earth is exactly the same in magnitude as the force the Earth exerts on the Moon, though it acts in the opposite direction. Thus, the Earth pulling on the Moon and the Moon pulling on the Earth exert equal forces.

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The Deep Dive

Interestingly, both the Earth pulling on the moon and the moon pulling on the Earth exert equal forces due to Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, while the Earth is much larger and has a stronger gravitational pull, the forces they exert on each other are balanced; the moon's pull on the Earth is just as strong as the Earth's pull on the moon! In terms of scale, the Earth and moon system is a fascinating dance! The Earth, being much more massive, undoubtedly experiences a stronger gravitational force, but the moon influences Earth too, causing ocean tides. The tides rise and fall due to the push and pull of these gravitational forces, showcasing the intricate relationship between the two celestial bodies. Isn’t that a cosmic ballet worth marveling at?

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