Question

Two objects attract each other with a gravitational force of magnitude 1.01 10-8 N when separated by 19.9 cm. If the total mass of the two objects is 5.11 kg, what is the mass of each?

Answer 1

m₂ = 1.17 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Force between two objects,
`F=1.01* 10^(-8)\ N`

Mass of object 1,
`m_1=5.11\ kg`

Distance between masses, r = 19.9 cm = 0.199 m

The gravitational force between two masses is given by :

`F=(Gm_1m_2)/(r^2)`

m₂ is the mass of object 2

`m_2=(Fr^2)/(Gm_1)\\\\m_2=(1.01* 10^(-8)* (0.199)^2)/(6.67* 10^(-11)* 5.11)\\\\=1.17\ kg`

So, the mass of second object is 1.17 kg.