Calculating Horizontal Displacement from Gravitational Force: A FBD Approach

[moondawg]

Homework Statement

A student proposes to study the gravitational force by suspending 2 100 kg sperical objects at the lower ends of cables from the ceiling of a tall cathedral and measuring the deflection of the cables from the vertical. The 45 m long cables are attatched to the ceiling 1m apart. The first object is suspended and its position is carefully measured. The second object is suspended and the 2 objects atract each other gravitationally. By what disance has the first object moved horizontally from its initial position due to the gravitational attraction to the other object?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I did the Fg= (Gm1m2)/r²
I got the force between the 2 to be 6.067x10^-4
... but how can i use that to find the distance the sphere moved? is this info even useful?!

 

[Schr0d1ng3r]

Try setting up the free body diagram. The cable will make a right-angle triangle with the horizontal and vertical. Use the force of gravity from the other block and the force of gravity from the earth.