Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Options

A. Universal law of gravitation is an assumption or hypothesis
B. Universal law of gravitation can be proved
C. Universal law of gravitation can be verified
D. Both (1) & (3)

Answer

To determine which statements regarding the Universal Law of Gravitation are correct, we can analyze the statements provided in the question step by step.

### Step 1: Understand the Universal Law of Gravitation
The Universal Law of Gravitation states that every point mass attracts every other point mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. This law can be expressed mathematically as:
\[ F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2} \]
where \( F \) is the gravitational force, \( G \) is the gravitational constant, \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \) are the masses of the two objects, and \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two masses.

### Step 2: Evaluate the Statements
1. **Statement 1: Universal Law of Gravitation is an Assumption or Hypothesis.**
- This statement is incorrect. The Universal Law of Gravitation is not merely an assumption or hypothesis; it is a well-established scientific law that has been experimentally verified through numerous observations and experiments.

2. **Statement 2: The law is based on assumptions regarding point masses.**
- This statement is correct. The law assumes that the objects are point masses, meaning that their size and shape do not affect the gravitational force between them. This is an important assumption for the law to hold true in its simplest form.

3. **Statement 3: The law can be experimentally verified.**
- This statement is correct. The Universal Law of Gravitation has been verified through various experiments and observations, such as the motion of planets, the falling of objects towards the Earth, and other gravitational interactions.

4. **Statement 4: The law is not proved; it is an experiment.**
- This statement is misleading. While the law is based on experimental observations, it is not correct to say it is "not proved." The law is a result of extensive empirical evidence and is accepted as a fundamental principle of physics.

### Conclusion
Based on the evaluation:
- Statement 1 is incorrect.
- Statement 2 is correct.
- Statement 3 is correct.
- Statement 4 is misleading.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3.

### Final Answer
The correct statements regarding the Universal Law of Gravitation are:
- Statement 2: The law is based on assumptions regarding point masses.
- Statement 3: The law can be experimentally verified.