Calculating Horizontal Displacement from Gravitational Force: A FBD Approach

In summary, a student proposes a study of gravitational force by suspending two 100 kg spherical objects from the ceiling of a cathedral and measuring the deflection of cables. The first object is suspended and its position is measured, then the second object is added and the gravitational attraction between them is measured. The equation Fg=(Gm1m2)/r^2 is used to calculate the force between the objects, but it is unclear how to use this information to find the horizontal distance the first object moved. The suggestion is made to set up a free body diagram and use the forces from the other object and the Earth.
  • #1
moondawg
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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?!
 
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  • #2
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.
 

1. What is gravitational force?

Gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass. It is one of the fundamental forces of nature and is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the sun and objects on Earth from floating off into space.

2. How is gravitational force calculated?

The strength of gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the masses of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This relationship is described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: F = G(m1m2)/r^2, where F is the force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between them.

3. What is an FBD (Free Body Diagram)?

An FBD is a visual representation of all the forces acting on an object in a given system. It is a useful tool for understanding and analyzing the effects of forces, such as gravitational force, on an object's motion.

4. How does gravitational force affect FBDs?

Gravitational force is always present in an FBD, as it is a fundamental force that acts on all objects with mass. The direction and magnitude of the gravitational force on an object can be represented by an arrow on the FBD, pointing towards the center of the Earth.

5. Can gravitational force be negative?

Yes, gravitational force can be negative. This typically occurs when there is a net force acting in the opposite direction, such as when an object is on a downward slope and the force of gravity is pulling it downhill.

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