- #1
ELLE_AW
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- Homework Statement
- Two celestial bodies form an isolated system in a remote region in space. When they are separated by a distance of 5000m, and they attract each other with a force of 2.67 N. If the total mass of the system is 2.5 x 10^9, then what is the mass of each celestial body?
- Relevant Equations
- F=Gm1m2/r^2
F=Gm1m2/r^2
2.67 = (6.67x10^-11)(m1xm2)/25000000
M1xM2 = 1 x 10^18
M2 = 1x10^18/M1 (Equation 1)
From the question stem, we know M1 + M2 = 2.5x10^9 (Equation 2)
So, substituting Equation 1 into Equation 2 we get:
1x10^18/m1 + m1 = 2.5 x 10^9
I'M STUCK FROM HERE ONWARDS... in the solutions manual they show that the m1 gets squared and you end up with a quadratic equation that you have to solve to get the two values for the masses. But, where does the squaring come in? I don't get it.
NEVERMIND, I got it! Just rusty algebra.. haha!
2.67 = (6.67x10^-11)(m1xm2)/25000000
M1xM2 = 1 x 10^18
M2 = 1x10^18/M1 (Equation 1)
From the question stem, we know M1 + M2 = 2.5x10^9 (Equation 2)
So, substituting Equation 1 into Equation 2 we get:
1x10^18/m1 + m1 = 2.5 x 10^9
I'M STUCK FROM HERE ONWARDS... in the solutions manual they show that the m1 gets squared and you end up with a quadratic equation that you have to solve to get the two values for the masses. But, where does the squaring come in? I don't get it.
NEVERMIND, I got it! Just rusty algebra.. haha!
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