Question

Two small masses, each with mass of 10 kg, are placed 5.0 m apart. What is the magnitute of the gravitational attraction between them?

Consider: G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2​

Answer 1

The gravitational attraction between both masses is
`2.668* 10^(-10)` newtons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the two masses are small, we can assume that both masses are particles. The gravitational force between both masses (
`F`), in newtons, can be calculated by Newton's Law of Gravitation:

`F = (G\cdot m_(1)\cdot m_(2))/(r^(2))` (1)

Where:

`G` - Gravitational constant, in newton-square meters per square kilograms.

`m_(1)`,
`m_(2)` - Masses, in kilograms.

`r` - Distance between masses, in meters.

If we know that
`G = 6.67* 10^(-11)\,(N\cdot m^(2))/(kg^(2))`,
`m_(1) = m_(2) = 10\,kg` and
`r = 5\,m`, then the gravitational force between both masses is:

`F = 2.668* 10^(-10)\,N`

The gravitational attraction between both masses is
`2.668* 10^(-10)` newtons.