Force of Gravity: Mass Change Factors

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the gravitational force between two masses, specifically examining how the force changes when the mass of one or both objects is altered. The subject area is gravitational physics, focusing on the application of Newton's law of universal gravitation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore how to determine the factor by which gravitational force changes when the mass of one or both objects is doubled. There is discussion about using the gravitational force equation and the concept of force ratios.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, attempting to clarify the original question and the assumptions involved. Some have suggested dividing the new force by the original force to find the factor of change. There is a mix of numerical and symbolic approaches being discussed.

Contextual Notes

There is some confusion regarding the complete wording of the original question, which affects the clarity of the discussion. Participants express uncertainty about the number of objects involved and the implications of changing their masses.

cary5
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By what factor does the force change if
a. The mass of the 10-kg ball is doubled?
b. The mass of each ball is doubled?

Fg=(Gm1m2)/r sqrd

i know i can find the anser by using this but i don't know hoe to do it
for (a) i don't have the masse of the second obj.
so double of 10 is 20
Fg=(Gm1*20)/r sqrd but that is not the factor of change
 
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cary5 said:
By what factor does the force change if
a. The mass of the 10-kg ball is doubled?
b. The mass of each ball is doubled?

Fg=(Gm1m2)/r sqrd

i know i can find the anser by using this but i don't know hoe to do it
for (a) i don't have the masse of the second obj.
so double of 10 is 20
Fg=(Gm1*20)/r sqrd but that is not the factor of change

They are looking for a ratio of forces, so divide the new force equation by the old one (lots of stuff cancels out...)
 
berkeman said:
They are looking for a ratio of forces, so divide the new force equation by the old one (lots of stuff cancels out...)

but there is only one object i can't use the equation with only one mass
 
cary5 said:
but there is only one object i can't use the equation with only one mass

One object? Then why do they ask what happens if the mass of "each" is doubled?

You didn't post the full question, so it's hard to be sure. But looking at what you posted, it looks like the question is about 2 masses, m1 and m2. They are asking what happens to the gravitational attraction force for parts a) and b), no?
 
berkeman said:
One object? Then why do they ask what happens if the mass of "each" is doubled?

You didn't post the full question, so it's hard to be sure. But looking at what you posted, it looks like the question is about 2 masses, m1 and m2. They are asking what happens to the gravitational attraction force for parts a) and b), no?

i don't know this the whole question
i give up
 
cary5 said:
i don't know this the whole question
i give up

Why don't you post the whole original question, word for word, before giving up...
 
berkeman said:
Why don't you post the whole original question, word for word, before giving up...

that is the whole question but befot that that is another question i think that it is referring to it

Q) What is the force of gravity
a. of a 10-kg steel ball on a 5-kg steel ball if the centers of the balls are 5 meters apart?
b. of a 5-kg steel ball on a 10-kg steel ball if the centers of the balls are 5 meters apart?
c. What is the acceleration of the 10-kg ball?
d. What is the acceleration of the 5-kg ball?

Q)By what factor does the force change if
a. The mass of the 10-kg ball is doubled?
b. The mass of each ball is doubled?

igot everything for the first question the forses on the balls are 1.3*10^-10
so if the force befor was that the new Fg would be 2.7*10^-10 sine the mass of the 10 kg ball is doubled
but it is still not the factor og chage how do i get that is is by dividing them?
 
cary5 said:
that is the whole question but befot that that is another question i think that it is referring to it

Q) What is the force of gravity
a. of a 10-kg steel ball on a 5-kg steel ball if the centers of the balls are 5 meters apart?
b. of a 5-kg steel ball on a 10-kg steel ball if the centers of the balls are 5 meters apart?
c. What is the acceleration of the 10-kg ball?
d. What is the acceleration of the 5-kg ball?

Q)By what factor does the force change if
a. The mass of the 10-kg ball is doubled?
b. The mass of each ball is doubled?

igot everything for the first question the forses on the balls are 1.3*10^-10
so if the force befor was that the new Fg would be 2.7*10^-10 sine the mass of the 10 kg ball is doubled
but it is still not the factor og chage how do i get that is is by dividing them?

They ask by what factor the force changes. So the change is F2/F1, where F2 if the force after making the change in the mass(es).

You already wrote the equation for the gravitational attractive force:

[tex]F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}[/tex]

You don't even need to plug in numbers to answer these two questions. For the first question, m1 doubles to 2*m1. For the second question, both m1 and m2 double to 2*m1 and 2*m2. Write the force ratio equation, and plug in the new mass multipliers as appropriate...
 
berkeman said:
They ask by what factor the force changes. So the change is F2/F1, where F2 if the force after making the change in the mass(es).

You already wrote the equation for the gravitational attractive force:

[tex]F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}[/tex]

You don't even need to plug in numbers to answer these two questions. For the first question, m1 doubles to 2*m1. For the second question, both m1 and m2 double to 2*m1 and 2*m2. Write the force ratio equation, and plug in the new mass multipliers as appropriate...

F2/F1 gives me 2.07 for the firs one
anf for b i got 4.07
 
  • #10
cary5 said:
F2/F1 gives me 2.07 for the firs one
anf for b i got 4.07

2/1 = 2.07?

4/1 = 4.07?

Other than that, I think you are getting there!
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
2/1 = 2.07?

4/1 = 4.07?

Other than that, I think you are getting there!

u said to do the force of gravity for the doubled mass/ force of gravity for the orignal
(2.7*10^-10)/(1.3*10^-10)=2.07
 
  • #12
cary5 said:
u said to do the force of gravity for the doubled mass/ force of gravity for the orignal
(2.7*10^-10)/(1.3*10^-10)=2.07

I also said to do it symbollically instead of plugging in bunch of numbers (and making small errors as a result of rounding during the calculations). You can see how your answers are slightly off of the real answers...
 
  • #13
berkeman said:
I also said to do it symbollically instead of plugging in bunch of numbers (and making small errors as a result of rounding during the calculations). You can see how your answers are slightly off of the real answers...

(Gm1*2m)/r squd
i don't know were to go from here
 
  • #14
berkeman said:
I also said to do it symbollically instead of plugging in bunch of numbers (and making small errors as a result of rounding during the calculations). You can see how your answers are slightly off of the real answers...

i think i got it
ok so (gm2m)/r2 divided bt (Gmm)/r2
and now everythig cansles out and we are left with 2m/m and the m's cancle and we get 2/1
is that right? is the facto 2/1 for the firs one
 
  • #15
it was so easy

F= Gm1m2 / r^2

F`=G10.m1m2 / r^2

cancel the repeting things
 
  • #16
cary5 said:
i think i got it
ok so (gm2m)/r2 divided bt (Gmm)/r2
and now everythig cansles out and we are left with 2m/m and the m's cancle and we get 2/1
is that right? is the facto 2/1 for the firs one

Yes. Good!
 
  • #17
oo7 - 2oo said:
it was so easy

f= gm1m2 / r^2

f`=g10.m1m2 / r^2

cancel the repeting things

g10?
 

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