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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

A skier with a mass of \(63 \mathrm{kg}\) starts from rest and skis down an icy (frictionless) slope that has a length of \(50 \mathrm{m}\) at an angle of \(32^{\circ}\) with respect to the horizontal. At the bottom of the slope, the path levels out and becomes horizontal, the snow becomes less icy, and the skier begins to slow down, coming to rest in a distance of \(140 \mathrm{m}\) along the horizontal path. (a) What is the speed of the skier at the bottom of the slope? (b) What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the skier and the horizontal surface?
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