Attraction and gravitational force.

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two objects attracting each other gravitationally, with a specified force and total mass. The objective is to determine their individual masses based on the gravitational interaction described by Newton's law of gravitation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to identify the individual masses but expresses uncertainty about the necessary formulas and methods. Some participants suggest using Newton's law of gravitation and propose a relationship between the masses based on the given total mass and gravitational force.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the application of Newton's law of gravitation. Some guidance has been provided regarding the relationship between the masses and the gravitational force, but there is no explicit consensus or resolution yet.

Contextual Notes

The problem is constrained by the requirement to find individual masses from a total mass and a gravitational force, which may lead to multiple interpretations of the relationships involved.

fineztpaki
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Homework Statement


Two objects attract each other gravitationally with a force of 2.7 10-10 N when they are 0.25 m apart. Their total mass is 4.0 kg. Find their individual masses.
larger mass - I kind of guessed this was 4.0 kg but don't know how to do it.
smaller mass ? kg


The Attempt at a Solution



I don't quite understand how exactly this must be done. What formulas would i use?
 
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Use Newton's Law of Gravity. (No guessing allowed!)

Call the masses M1 and M2, if you like.
 
ahh.. i still don't get it?
 
take two masses M1 and M2. problem says that M1+M2= 4.
Newton's law of gravitation says that force between two objects of mass M1 and M2 is

F = (gravitational constant) x (M1) x (M2) / (square of the distance)

so u know F, gravitational constant, the value of distance. Substitute these values in the above equation, u going to get a relation beween M1 and M2 something like ,
M1= something times M2

substiute that in M1 + M2 = 4,
probably u get the answer.
 
thanks
 

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