Correct Option
The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation describes the force of interaction between any two particles having mass. It is a fundamental force of nature governed by the principle that every mass attracts every other mass.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Gravitational force is always attractive in nature. Unlike electrostatic or magnetic forces, which can be attractive or repulsive, gravity only acts to pull objects together.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Gravitational force is a central force. This means it acts along the straight line joining the centers of the two interacting bodies. It does not act perpendicular to this line.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Gravitational interaction obeys Newton's Third Law of Motion. The force exerted by the first body on the second is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the second body on the first ($F_{12} = -F_{21}$). Thus, they form an action-reaction pair.
Key Takeaway: Gravitation is a universal, attractive, and central force that acts along the line connecting two masses and strictly follows the law of action and reaction.