Find the magnitude of the net gravitational force exerted by the two larger masses on the 78.8 kg mass.

Question

Objects with masses of 183 kg and 600 kg are separated by 0.424 m. A 78.8 kg mass is placed midway between them.The value of the universal gravitational constant is 6.672 × 10^−11 N · m2 /kg2

Answer 1

Hi Sam A., forces add as vectors, equation for universal gravitational = ?? ((function of G, m1, m2, r ). Do the math!

Do you recognize what significant thing (name, details) this situation is re-creating?

By the way, if you were trying this yourself, even lead isn't dense enough for that 600 kg sphere. Even a (depleted, one hopes) uranium sphere with r=0.2 m has a mass ~640 kg, and who has 600 kg of uranium around?

--Cheers, -- Mr. d.