Final answer:
The gravitational force between two 5 kg masses separated by 10 cm is calculated using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation with the universal gravitational constant. After substituting the values into the formula, the resultant force is 1.67 × 10^-7 Newtons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational force between two 5.00 kg masses that are 10.0 cm apart can be calculated using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. This law states that the gravitational force (F) between two masses (m1 and m2) is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between their centers. The formula is expressed as:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2
where G is the universal gravitational constant, which has a value of 6.674 × 10^-11 N·m²/kg². To find the force between the two 5.00 kg masses separated by 10.0 cm (which must be converted to meters, therefore 0.1 m), we use the formula:
F = (6.674 × 10^-11 N·m²/kg²) * (5.00 kg * 5.00 kg) / (0.1 m)^2
After calculating, we find that the gravitational force between the masses is 1.67 × 10^-7 N. This force is consistent with our everyday experience, which suggests that the gravitational force between objects of such small mass and at such short distance is incredibly weak.