High School

A mass m = 197 kg is located at the origin; an identical second mass m is at x = 33 cm. A third mass m is above the first two so the three masses form an equilateral triangle. What is the net gravitational force on the third mass? All masses are same. Answer:

Answer :

The net gravitational force on the third mass, located above the first two masses in an equilateral triangle formation, is zero. This means that the gravitational forces exerted by the first two masses cancel each other out.

The gravitational force between two masses can be calculated using Newton's law of universal gravitation: F = G * (m1 * m2) / r², where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses, and r is the distance between the masses.

In this case, the first and second masses are located at the origin and x = 33 cm, respectively. Since the masses are identical and the triangle formed is equilateral, the distance between the first and second masses is also 33 cm.

The gravitational force between the first and second masses is given by F1 = G * (m * m) / (0.33)^2, and it acts along the line joining these masses. Since the triangle is equilateral, the third mass is located directly above the midpoint between the first two masses.

As a result, the gravitational force exerted by the first mass on the third mass is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the gravitational force exerted by the second mass on the third mass. Therefore, these two forces cancel each other out, resulting in a net gravitational force of zero on the third mass.

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