UPSC NDA I 2017 General Ability Solved Paper

Concept:Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every point mass attracts every other point mass by a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.The constant $G$ is the universal gravitational constant.Explanation:The equation $F = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}$ contains $G$ as a fundamental physical constant.$G$ does not depend on the masses $m_1$ and $m_2$, the distance $r$, the medium between the bodies, or the local value of $g$.Its numerical value is $6.67 \times 10^{-11}\,\mathrm{N\,m^2/kg^2}$ and is the same everywhere in the universe.Option A is false because $G$ does not depend on local $g$.Option B is false because $G$ is not greater at the Earth's surface; it is a universal constant.Option C is false because $G$ is used in the gravitational interaction between any two masses, not only when Earth is involved.Only option D correctly identifies $G$ as a universal constant.Answer:Option D: The quantity $G$ is a universal constant.