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Jimsac
Nov16-04, 05:17 PM
Here is the ex. in the book. Two 3.kg textbooks are .15 apart. What is the gravitational attraction?
The answer is given 2.7*10-8
I also know the formula is F=Gm1m2/r
I just do not understand what they are doing to get the answer.

(6.67*10-11 N-m2kg2)(3.kg)(3.kg)/.15
This is the formula I am trying to use

Please help!

NateTG
Nov16-04, 05:33 PM
It's
F=\frac{m_1m_2G}{r^2}
distance squared.

Jimsac
Nov16-04, 06:17 PM
I know the formula I do not understand how to solve it

Tom Mattson
Nov16-04, 06:27 PM
I know the formula I do not understand how to solve it

Look closer. Your formula is wrong, and Nate's is right (note the "r2" in the denominator).

Jimsac
Nov18-04, 05:57 PM
What I do not understand is what to do with the formula. How do you solve this problem? THis is just an example in the book with the answer given but I do not understand what to do with the formula to solve it. Sorry

NateTG
Nov18-04, 06:05 PM
Plug in the numbers:
F=\frac{m_1m_2G}{r^2} \Rightarrow \frac{3 \times 3 \times (6.67 \times 10^{-11})}{0.15^2}