What would happen to gravitational force if the distance between two objects becomes zero?

Question

according to gravitational law, F=G(M.m)/d^2. right. now if distance becomes zero then does the force becomes infinite?

Answer 1

IF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM IS ZERO THEN THAT MEANS THEY ARE IN CONTACT..AND THAT MEANS THEY ARE WHOLE AS A BODY..SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF GRAVITY HERE BETWEEN THE TWO OBJECTS

Answer 2

If two objects occupy the same spot, then they are the same object - just more mass.

In the real world, an object's mass doesn't occupy a single point. The mass is distributed over some volume. Two center of masses can't occupy the same spot since they'll collide first.

Still, if you're talking about a theoretical situation, there would be a discontinuity at the spot where the distance equals zero. It would be an undefined spot, vs. calculating the gravitational force as infinite.

Answer 3

Hmmm..... Good question but less thought went into it.

You considered the the term "d" as the distance from the surface, that is if two bodies touch each other, right??

Well, that is not true, distance between two objects is measured from the center of each object, to the center of the other.

i.e., even if they touch each other, "d" = radius of 1st object + radius of 2nd, but not "zero".

Also you see, matter always occupies space and hence always has some radius, even though it might be small.

so "d" will never be "zero", it might approach "zero". Well in that case, we should use calculus, but it is not required here..

So you see there is no way that "d" becomes "zero" and hence the expression do not evaluate to be infinity

But again if masses are too great and the diameters and distances are negligible then it will have kind of but not exactly infinite force, that is what we see in cases of black holes, which have very high density...........

density= mass / volume

Hence if density is great, mass is great, and volume is small and hence radius is small, and hence "d" is very small if some objects touch or come near a black hole.

So they exert a great force on near objects and pull them to it. They are formed as stars of huge masses die out and shrink into a dense and small mass.

Hope you got your answer..... ???

Answer 4

Yes, that is exactly what would happen, mathematically. Of course in real life all objects occupy a volume so the two objects touch before the distance between them is zero. That is because it is the distance between the CENTER of each object that counts, not the distance between their surfaces.

Answer 5

When distance is zero, the body is going to be at rest. With a force equal to the gravity, the body will be acted upon to keep the body stable at rest.
VR

Answer 6

the distance between two objects cannot become zero coz then the strong nuclear forces predominate and cause repulsion. earlier it was even believed that grav. force became repulsive at short distances

Answer 7

d= zero mean the two masses have combined and their center of gravities became the same.

Answer 8

cool thought...i respect you