Two identical point masses are fixed at positions and in the -plane

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

Problem

Two identical point masses

M = 20\,\text{kg}

are fixed at positions

A(0,0)

and

B(a,0)

in the

xy

-plane. Find the gravitational field intensity at the point

C(0,a)

, where

a = 0.50\,\text{m}

. (a) Evaluate the

x

- and

y

-components of the gravitational field intensity at

C

produced by each mass. (b) Hence obtain the magnitude of the resultant field at

C

. (c) Determine the angle that the resultant field makes with the positive

x

-axis.