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Chapter 4: Problem 106

Which of the fundamental forces governs the motion of planets in the solar system? Is this the strongest or the weakest of the fundamental forces? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The fundamental force governing the motion of planets in the solar system is gravity. It is the weakest of the four fundamental forces, which are strong nuclear force, electromagnetic force, weak nuclear force, and gravitational force.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the fundamental force governing planetary motion

The force that governs the motion of planets in the solar system is gravity. This force attracts objects with mass, such as planets, stars, and galaxies, towards each other.
02

Compare gravity to other fundamental forces

There are four fundamental forces in nature: gravitational force, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. Now, we'll determine if gravity is the strongest or weakest among these forces.
03

Gravitational force

Gravity is the force that attracts objects with mass towards each other. It's responsible for the motion of planets, stars, and galaxies, as well as the formation of the universe's structure. In the equation for gravitational force, F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between them.
04

Electromagnetic force

The electromagnetic force is responsible for the interaction between electrically charged particles, such as electrons and protons. This force is both attractive and repulsive, depending on the charge of the particles involved. It is much stronger than the gravitational force but has a limited range, acting mainly on atomic and molecular scales.
05

Strong nuclear force

The strong nuclear force is the strongest of the four fundamental forces. It binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom. This force acts at very short distances, on the order of an atomic nucleus, and overcomes the repulsive electromagnetic force between protons.
06

Weak nuclear force

The weak nuclear force is responsible for certain types of radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, such as beta decay. It's weaker than the electromagnetic and strong nuclear forces but stronger than gravity. It also acts at very short distances, similar to the strong nuclear force.
07

Ranking the fundamental forces

Based on the explanations provided, the ranking of the fundamental forces, from strongest to weakest, is as follows: 1. Strong nuclear force 2. Electromagnetic force 3. Weak nuclear force 4. Gravitational force
08

Conclusion

The force that governs the motion of planets in the solar system is gravity, which is the weakest of the four fundamental forces. Despite being the weakest, its long-range action is responsible for shaping the structure of the universe, including the motion of celestial bodies like planets.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Two blocks lie side by side on a frictionless table. The block on the left is of mass \(m\); the one on the right is of mass \(2 m .\) The block on the right is pushed to the left with a force of magnitude \(F,\) pushing the other block in turn. What force does the block on the left exert on the block to its right?
A 320 -kg satellite is in orbit around the Earth \(16000 \mathrm{km}\) above the Earth's surface. (a) What is the weight of the satellite when in orbit? (b) What was its weight when it was on the Earth's surface, before being launched? (c) While it orbits the Earth, what force does the satellite exert on the Earth?
During a balloon ascension, wearing an oxygen mask, you measure the weight of a calibrated \(5.00-\mathrm{kg}\) mass and find that the value of the gravitational field strength at your location is 9.792 N/kg. How high above sea level, where the gravitational field strength was measured to be $9.803 \mathrm{N} / \mathrm{kg},$ are you located?
A bike is hanging from a hook in a garage. Consider the following forces: (a) the force of the Earth pulling down on the bike, (b) the force of the bike pulling up on the Earth, (c) the force of the hook pulling up on the bike, and (d) the force of the hook pulling down on the ceiling. Which two forces are equal and opposite because of Newton's third law? Which two forces are equal and opposite because of Newton's first law?
Before hanging new William Morris wallpaper in her bedroom, Brenda sanded the walls lightly to smooth out some irregularities on the surface. The sanding block weighs \(2.0 \mathrm{N}\) and Brenda pushes on it with a force of $3.0 \mathrm{N}\( at an angle of \)30.0^{\circ}$ with respect to the vertical, and angled toward the wall. Draw an FBD for the sanding block as it moves straight up the wall at a constant speed. What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the wall and the block?
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