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? asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 3 years ago

In the figure,a square of edge length 17 cm is formed by 4 spheres of masses m1 = 4.7g,m2 = 2.9g,m3 = 0.8g,&m4 = 4.7g.What am I doing wrong?

Information Given: In the figure, a square of edge length 17.0 cm is formed by four spheres of masses m1 = 4.70 g, m2 = 2.90 g, m3 = 0.800 g, and m4 = 4.70 g.

Question: In unit-vector notation, what is the net gravitational force from them on a central sphere with mass m5 = 2.90 g?

Attempted Solution:F=k*m1*m2/r^2

r= (sqrt (0.1m)^2 + (0.1m)^2)=0.1414m

F25=(6.67*10^-11)(0.0290)/0.1414m

F25=1.36796322*10^-11

F35=(1.36796322*10^-11)/4=3.14990806*10^-12

Resultant: F25-F35=(1.36796322*10^-11)-(3.141990806*10^-12)=2.77917256*10^-13

Horizontal:( 2.77917256*10^-13) cos(45)= 1.4596046*10^-13 N

Vertical: (2.77917256*10^-13) sin (45)= 1.2422855*10^-13 N

Answer(Incorrect):1.46e-13 i + 1.24e-13 j N

I don't understand I checked this several times yet it's incorrect!

Help is greatly appreciated

Thank You!

1 Answer

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  • 3 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Assuming m1 and m4 are on opposite corners so they cancel out which is why you didn't work out those forces.

    In your calculation for r where do you get 0.1 m from?

    The distance from center to corner is r = sqrt( (0.17 m)^2 + (0.17 m)^2) / 2 = 0.1202 m approx.

    The formula for gravitational force between two point masses says you need to SQUARE THE DISTANCE.

    It also says you need to multiply BOTH masses together.

    And for example 2.9 g = 0.0029 kg and not 0.029 kg... be careful with your powers of 10

    In light of that

    F25 = G(m2)(m5) / r^2 = (6.67×10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2)(0.0029 kg)(0.0029 kg) / ((0.17 m)^2 / 2) = 3.88×10^-14 N

    m3 is 3.625 times less massive than m2, so F35 = F25 / 3.625 = 1.071×10^-14 N

    Resultant is F25 - F35 = F25 (1 - 1/3.625) = 2.811×10^-14 N

    cos45° and sin45° are necessarily EQUAL because those angles form an isosceles right triangle with two legs of the SAME length so the i- and j-components must be equal.

    2.811×10^-14 N * cos45° or sin45° = 1.988×10^-14 N

    So resultant on m5 is

    F = (1.99e-14 i + 1.99e-14 j) N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

    rounded to 3 sig digits.

    Assuming m2 is kinda between the i and j directions.

    If the length of side is indeed 0.1 m, then all the forces are increased by a factor (0.17 / 0.1)^2 = 2.89 so multiply answer by that.

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