A student claims that the force exerted by the Earth on the Moon is much stronger than the force exerted by the Moon on the Earth. Based on Newton's third law and the Universal Law of Gravitation, is this claim correct?

Correct Option: No, both forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Understanding Newton's Third Law of Motion:
Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When object A exerts a force on object B, object B simultaneously exerts a force of equal magnitude and opposite direction on object A.

2. Analyzing Universal Law of Gravitation:
According to Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation, the magnitude of the gravitational attraction force between two point masses, m₁ (Earth) and m₂ (Moon), separated by a distance r, is given by:

$F=G\frac{m_1{m}_2}{r^2}$

Here, G is the universal gravitational constant.

3. Evaluating the Mutual Force:
Notice that the gravitational force equation depends symmetrically on the product of both masses, m₁ × m₂. This means that the force exerted by the Earth on the Moon is calculated using the exact same formula and variables as the force exerted by the Moon on the Earth.

Conclusion:
Even though the Earth is significantly more massive than the Moon, the force of attraction exerted by the Earth on the Moon is exactly equal in magnitude to the force exerted by the Moon on the Earth, directed in opposite directions. Therefore, the student's claim is incorrect.