Question

What is the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by a 15Kg mass on a 25Kg mass separated by a distance of 25cm? What is the acceleration produced in each mass?

Answer 1

Let the masses of 2 bodies be m₁ and m₂ and let their accelerations be a₁ and a₂ respectively.

Distance between them d= 0.25m

From Newton's law of gravitation, the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by a 15Kg mass on a 25Kg mass separated by a distance of 25cm is given by,

$F=G\frac{m_1{m}_2}{d^2}=\frac{6.673\ast {10}^{-11}\times 25\times 15}{{0.25}^2}=4\times {10}^{-7}N$.

The acceleration produced in each mass is given by,

a₁ = $\frac{G{m}_1}{{0.25}^2}$ = $\frac{6.673\ast {10}^{-11}\ast 25}{{0.25}^2}$ = 2.67*${10}^{-8}$ $\frac{m}{s^2}$

a₂ = $\frac{G{m}_1}{{0.25}^2}$ =$\frac{6.673\ast {10}^{-11}\ast 15}{{0.25}^2}$= 1.6*${10}^{-8}$ $\frac{m}{s^2}$