Show that, for two point masses and separated by a distance , the point along the…

PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

Show that, for two point masses

M_1

and

M_2

separated by a distance

d

, the point along the line joining them where the net gravitational field is zero divides the distance

d

in the ratio

M_1^{1/2}:M_2^{1/2}

. Hence obtain an expression for the distance

x

of this point from

M_1