Gravitation of two iron spheres homework problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the distance from the center of the Earth at which the gravitational attraction between two touching iron spheres equals the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on one of the spheres. The spheres have a specified diameter, and the problem requires consideration of their masses and the gravitational constant.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss setting up equations for gravitational force and question how to handle the unknowns involved, particularly the mass of the spheres. There is an exploration of how to eliminate variables to solve for the distance r.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on calculating the mass of the spheres using their density, which has helped clarify the problem for the original poster. However, there remains a focus on understanding the relationship between the variables and the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted constraint regarding the lack of explicit values for the mass of the spheres, which has led to confusion about how to proceed with the calculations. The problem requires the use of known physical constants and properties to derive necessary values.

krnhseya
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Consider two iron spheres, each of diameter 100mm, which are just touching. At what distance r from the center of the Earth will the force of mutual attraction between the contacting spheres be equal to the force exerted by the Earth on one of the spheres?

Here's my work...

d = distance between center of spheres
r = distance between center of Earth to the center of sphere
me = mass of earth
m = mass of sphere=m1=m2

F = G(m^2)/(d^2)
= I get some number with (m^2)...so 1 unknown.

then I make this equal to...

F = G*me*m/(r^2)
= I get some number with m/(r^2)...so 2 unknowns.

I am confused as to what I am suppose to do beyond this...
Problem seems to be asking me to set 2 equations to equal to each other and solve for r but it won't work...what am I doing wrong?

Thank you.
 
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It works: (use M for mass of earth)

[tex]\frac{Gm^2}{d^2} = \frac{GMm}{r^2}[/tex]
[tex]\frac{m}{d^2} = \frac{M}{r^2}[/tex]
[tex]r = \sqrt{\frac{M}{m}}d[/tex]

Where you've given M, m and d.
 
m isn't given.
First thing that I wrote up there is the whole question.
Answer comes out to be a number.
How do I get the number if I have 2 unknowns. :(

I am thinking that there's something that I am missing that gets rid of that m so that I can cancel out m and just solve for r.
 
If they're iron, and you know the size, you can calculate the mass. Density of iron can be found in any data book.
 
OMG! There!
Now I see what I've missed.
I got the right answer. Thank you so much! :D
 

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