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Question
If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?
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Solution
- The Earth and the Moon are attracted to each other with the same power.
- However, Newton's second equation of motion states that the acceleration produced by any force in a body is inversely proportional to its mass.
- The Earth's acceleration is insignificant because its mass is far greater than that of the moon. As a result, it looks that the Earth is not moving towards the Moon.
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