Basic Center of mass problem. Need assistance

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
blackbyron
Messages
47
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Two point-like masses have common center of mass located at (xc=2.1cm, yc=4.3cm). Mass M1=49kg is at (x1=65cm, y1). Mass M2=7.5kg is at (x2, y2=(-85)cm). A third mass M3 is placed at (x3=(-15.3)cm, y3=9.4cm). What is the mass of M3 if the x-coordinate of the center of mass of the 3 mass is at x=0?


Homework Equations



[tex]\sum (mi)(xi)/(mi)[/tex] with respect to x.

The Attempt at a Solution


Find out the mass of m3, but what does this mean "x-coordinate of the center of mass of the 3 mass is at x=0?"

I cannot solve for m3 because the x2 is unknown.

Any ideas?

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Find the missing value of x2 using the initial center of mass for the two first masses.

I think that they meant to write, "x-coordinate of the center of mass of the 3 masses is at x=0".
 
Thanks for your reply. Yeah I was confused on "3 mass." I thought he meant the 3rd mass. But I just figured out because I admit that I didn't read it carefully though. However, thanks though, I appreciate it.