Gravitaional attraction between two objects

  • Thread starter Thread starter EliteCodexer
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Attraction
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the gravitational attraction between two objects, specifically the Earth and the Moon, under altered mass conditions. The original poster queries how the gravitational force would change if the mass of the Earth were doubled and the mass of the Moon tripled.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between mass and gravitational force, with some attempting to apply the gravitational formula. Others express confusion about their calculations and seek clarification on the effects of changing mass values.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problem by suggesting a comparison of the original and modified equations. There is an indication that a clearer understanding of the relationship between mass and gravitational force has been reached by at least one participant, though not all are in agreement or fully resolved.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of repeated attempts to solve the problem, with some participants expressing frustration over their calculations. The discussion includes references to specific numerical values and the gravitational constant, but no consensus on the final answer has been established.

EliteCodexer
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


If the mass of the Earth were twice as big, and the mass of the moon were three times bigger, by what factor would the gravitational attraction between the two be multiplied?


Homework Equations


0f36df929ac9d711a8ba8c5658c3bfee.png



The Attempt at a Solution


Ive used this formula and failed twice to get the correct answer. please help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
EliteCodexer said:

Homework Statement


If the mass of the Earth were twice as big, and the mass of the moon were three times bigger, by what factor would the gravitational attraction between the two be multiplied?


Homework Equations


0f36df929ac9d711a8ba8c5658c3bfee.png



The Attempt at a Solution


Ive used this formula and failed twice to get the correct answer. please help.
Show us what you did.

Chet
 
6.67×10−11 N·(m/kg)2 x [(1.194438 x 10 ^19) x (2.204301927 x 10^14)/147765666409]

Mass of earth: 5.97219 × 10^24 kg
Mass of moon: 7.34767309 × 10^22 kg
Distance between centers of masses: 384,403 km
 
Rather than put all the numbers in, just note that F depends on the product of the masses. So if one mass doubles and the other triples, you can replace m1 with 2xm1 and m2 with 3xm2. Write both equations (the original one and the one with the new masses) side by side, and the answer should be obvious...
 
nope. still not getting it.
 
So, in the original equation, you have

F = G*m1*m2/r^2

In the new equation, you have

F' = G *(2xm1)*(3xm2)/r^2 = 6*G*m1*m2/r^2 = 6*F

So the force is increased by a factor of 6. Does that make sense?

(Apologies for the badly formatted equations, I'm useless with this stuff... will have to learn).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
OOOHHHH. wow. Yeah i get it now. Sorry it took me so long. I thinking way to much into it. Thank you!
 
Naz93 said:
So, in the original equation, you have

F = G*m1*m2/r^2

In the new equation, you have

F' = G *(2xm1)*(3xm2)/r^2 = 6*G*m1*m2/r^2 = 6*F

So the force is increased by a factor of 6. Does that make sense?

(Apologies for the badly formatted equations, I'm useless with this stuff... will have to learn).

Please check your PMs. It is against the PF rules to do other students' homework for them.
 

Similar threads

Force between Parallel Current Carrying Wires
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Find the attractive force of gravity between two objects
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
What is the magnitude of acceleration?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Can a neutral insulator be attracted to a charged object?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Acceleration of object at specific height?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Find the force of attraction for a particle outside sphere
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Understanding Gravitational Field Lines Between Two Objects
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Variation of gravitational attraction between Sun and Earth
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Force of attraction between mars and its moon
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Why does the gravitational force decrease below the Earth's surface?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K