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title: "Two scientific research probes are floating in deep space far from any other massive objects. Probe 1 has a mass of \\(M\\) and Probe 2 has a mass of \\(2M\\). When the probes are separated by a distance \\(D\\), the magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2 is \\(F\\). The probes are then moved so that the distance between their centers is \\(2D\\). What is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114442/"
date_modified: "2026-07-03T04:36:26+00:00"
---

# Two scientific research probes are floating in deep space far from any other massive objects. Probe 1 has a mass of \(M\) and Probe 2 has a mass of \(2M\). When the probes are separated by a distance \(D\), the magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2 is \(F\). The probes are then moved so that the distance between their centers is \(2D\). What is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2?

Two scientific research probes are floating in deep space far from any other massive objects. Probe 1 has a mass of \(M\) and Probe 2 has a mass of \(2M\). When the probes are separated by a distance \(D\), the magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2 is \(F\). The probes are then moved so that the distance between their centers is \(2D\). What is the new magnitude of the gravitational force that Probe 1 exerts on Probe 2?

- **A.** \(\dfrac{1}{4}F\)
- **B.** \(\dfrac{1}{2}F\)
- **C.** \(2F\)
- **D.** \(4F\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114442/*