Here's why:
* Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: This law states that the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Mathematically:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
Where:
* F is the force of gravity
* G is the gravitational constant
* m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects
* r is the distance between their centers
* Doubling the star's mass: If we double the mass of the star (m1), the force of gravity (F) will also double, assuming all other factors (the planet's mass and the distance between them) remain constant.
Important Note: Doubling the star's mass would also affect the planet's orbital period. The planet would orbit faster due to the increased gravitational force. However, the question specifically asks about the effect on the gravitational attraction, which is simply a doubling.
