Answer: 3. F1 = F2
Explanation:
According to Newton's law of Gravitation, the force [tex]F[/tex] exerted between two bodies or objects of masses [tex]M[/tex] and [tex]m[/tex] and separated by a distance [tex]r[/tex] is equal to the product of their masses divided by the square of the distance:
[tex]F=G\frac{Mm}{r^2}[/tex] (1)
Where [tex]G[/tex]is the gravitational constant
Now, in the especific case of the Earth and the satellite, where the Earth has a mass [tex]M[/tex] and satellite a mass [tex]m[/tex], being both separated a distance [tex]r[/tex], the force exerted by the Earth on the satellite is:
[tex]F1=G\frac{Mm}{r^2}[/tex] (2)
And the force exerted by the satellite on the Earth is:
[tex]F2=G\frac{Mm}{r^2}[/tex] (3)
As we can see equations (2) and (3) are equal, hence the magnitude of the gravitational force is the same for both:
[tex]F1=F2[/tex]
