Question

if the distance between two masses be increased by a factor of 6, by what factor would the mass of one of them have to be altered to maintain the same gravitational force? would this be an increase of decrease in mass?

Answer 1

F1 = G m1 m2 / R^2 force between m1 and m2

F2 = G m1 m2 / (6 R)^2 force if distance increases by factor of 6

F1 / F2 = 6^2 = 36

One of the masses would have to be decreased by a factor of 36

for the force to remain the same - if either m1 or m2 were decreased to 1/36 of its value, then the force would remain the same