Gravitational Force Homework: 3 Spheres, Masses, Distance

[wbetting]

Homework Statement

Sphere A with mass 70 kg is located at the origin of an xy coordinate system; sphere B with mass 69 kg is located at coordinates (0.29 m, 0); sphere C with mass 0.40 kg is located at coordinates (0.15 m, 0.11 m). In unit-vector notation, what is the gravitational force on C due to A and B?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I just have a quick question. How do you find distance between ac and bc. I know its simple i just don't want to do the whole problem with wrong Rac and Rbc values. I graphed it and did Pythagorean theorem to find hypotenuse? Is this correct i got distance between ac to be .186 and bc to be .178. I got the physics down its the algebra that i need to check!

 

[tiny-tim]

hi wbetting!

How do you find distance between ac and bc. … I graphed it and did Pythagorean theorem to find hypotenuse? Is this correct i got distance between ac to be .186 and bc to be .178.

(either say "the distance between a and c" or "the distance ac" )

yes, pythagoras is the correct method (and your answers are correct)