Correct Option
The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Gravitation is a fundamental interaction in nature that exists between any two bodies possessing mass. It is a universal force governed by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect.
The force of gravity acts on all objects that have mass, regardless of their state of motion. It acts on stationary objects (such as a book resting on a table) just as it acts on moving objects (such as a satellite orbiting the Earth). Motion is not a condition for the gravitational force to exist. - Statement 2 is Correct.
Gravity is a non-contact force, often described as an "action-at-a-distance" force. It operates through a gravitational field and does not require physical contact between the interacting bodies. For instance, the Sun exerts a gravitational pull on the Earth despite the vacuum of space separating them. - Statement 3 is Correct.
Gravity is exclusively an attractive force. Unlike electrostatic or magnetic forces, which can be either attractive or repulsive depending on polarity or charge, gravity always pulls masses toward one another and never repels them.
Key Takeaway
Gravity is a universal, non-contact, and inherently attractive force that acts on all matter possessing mass, independent of whether the object is at rest or in motion.