Three point masses are fixed in a horizontal plane as follows: a mass is placed at…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Motion in a Plane · Motion in a Plane
Problem
Three point masses are fixed in a horizontal plane as follows: a mass m is placed at the origin O, a mass 2m at the point (0,a) on the y-axis, and a mass 3m at the point (a,0) on the x-axis, where a is a positive constant. Ignore all other forces and take G as the universal gravitational constant.
(i) Write expressions for the magnitudes of the gravitational forces acting on the mass at the origin due to the other two masses separately.
(ii) By treating the forces as vectors, obtain the magnitude and direction (angle with the positive x-axis) of the net gravitational force acting on the mass m at the origin in terms of G,m, and a.
(iii) Evaluate the magnitude of the net force when m=0.10kg and a=0.20m. Express your answer in scientific notation to two significant figures.