What is the ranking of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon on a spaceship from strongest to weakest?

The gravitational forces exerted by celestial bodies, such as the Moon, depend on several factors including the mass of the bodies and the distance between them. In this context, it's essential to understand that the gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance between the two objects — this is described by Newton's law of universal gravitation.

To rank the gravitational forces effectively, you must consider both the mass of the spaceship and its distance from the Moon. The closer an object is to the Moon, the stronger the gravitational pull experienced. Therefore, positions of the spaceship relative to the Moon play a crucial role in determining the strength of the gravitational forces acting on it.

In the correct ranking presented (D > B > A > E > C), "D" represents the position where the spaceship is closest to the Moon, resulting in the strongest gravitational force. "B" is moderately close, hence it experiences a strong gravitational force but less than "D." "A" is further away, thus the gravitational force diminishes compared to "B." Following that, "E" and "C" would be at even greater distances, resulting in progressively weaker gravitational forces.

By understanding these principles of gravitational attraction, the ranking of forces becomes clear, as it correlates