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kingwinner
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1) 2 stars with the mass and radius of the Sun are separated by distance 10R_s between their centers of mass. (where R_s is the radius of the Sun). A 10000kg space shuttle moves along a line between the stars. Draw a graph of the space shuttle's potential energy (as a function of position) along a line passing through the 2 stars. Let one star be at x=0 and the other at x=10R_s
I have no clue...Can anyone give me some hints?
I know the formula for the grav. potential energy between TWO masses is -GMm/r. But in this case, the system has THREE masses, what should I do? (I have never seen something similar to this.) How would the "shape" of the graph look like?
I hope that someone can help me out. Thanks a lot!
I have no clue...Can anyone give me some hints?
I know the formula for the grav. potential energy between TWO masses is -GMm/r. But in this case, the system has THREE masses, what should I do? (I have never seen something similar to this.) How would the "shape" of the graph look like?
I hope that someone can help me out. Thanks a lot!