---
title: "Two moons, Moon X and Moon Y, are separated by a center-to-center distance \\(R\\). The magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y is \\(F\\). Moon X then collides with a large asteroid, which causes Moon X to double its mass. Due to the collision, the orbital path is altered such that the center-to-center distance between the two moons is reduced to \\(\\dfrac{1}{2}R\\). If the mass of Moon Y remains constant, what is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/113060/"
date_modified: "2026-05-05T03:44:53+00:00"
---

# Two moons, Moon X and Moon Y, are separated by a center-to-center distance \(R\). The magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y is \(F\). Moon X then collides with a large asteroid, which causes Moon X to double its mass. Due to the collision, the orbital path is altered such that the center-to-center distance between the two moons is reduced to \(\dfrac{1}{2}R\). If the mass of Moon Y remains constant, what is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y?

Two moons, Moon X and Moon Y, are separated by a center-to-center distance \(R\). The magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y is \(F\). Moon X then collides with a large asteroid, which causes Moon X to double its mass. Due to the collision, the orbital path is altered such that the center-to-center distance between the two moons is reduced to \(\dfrac{1}{2}R\). If the mass of Moon Y remains constant, what is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Moon X exerts on Moon Y?

- **A.** \(F\)
- **B.** \(4F\)
- **C.** \(8F\)
- **D.** \(16F\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/113060/*