Relation between Mass and distance between two objects

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The discussion centers on the relationship between mass, distance, and gravitational acceleration. It highlights that an object falling towards another due to gravity accelerates until it reaches a maximum speed determined by the gravitational constant and the masses involved. This maximum speed, known as escape velocity, is approximately 11 km/sec for objects falling towards Earth, regardless of the initial distance. The conversation also touches on theories explaining these phenomena, including Newtonian gravity and Einstein's General Relativity. Additionally, the concept of safe distances between objects in space is introduced, referencing Lagrange points as a relevant theory.
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I have a question about Mass of an objects and distance between them. If a object is pulled by gravity it accelerates. Is there a limit on the speed till which object will speed.
If a object is falling towards Earth from a long distance then it will accelarate indefinitely ?
Is there a safe distance between two objects if there is no other force to interfere ? Do anyone know any theory which explains this
 
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shunya said:
If a object is pulled by gravity it accelerates. Is there a limit on the speed till which object will speed.

The maximum speed at which an object can move is the speed of light. Look up the theory of relativity.


Is there a safe distance between two objects if there is no other force to interfere ?

The barycenter is the distance from mass m:

d_{barycenter}=\frac{m}{M+m}r

where r is the separation between the two objects.
 
shunya said:
I have a question about Mass of an objects and distance between them. If a object is pulled by gravity it accelerates. Is there a limit on the speed till which object will speed.
Yes. If you are talking about one object falling towards another due to gravity. Assuming the two objects start at rest with respect to each other, then the maximum speed the falling object could reach before striking the second, no matter how far apart they started, is

V= \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}

where G is the gravitational constant
M is the mass that is attracting the object
r is the the radius of mass M.

The one caveat is that that we are assuming that the falling object's mass is very small when compared to the other mass.

If a object is falling towards Earth from a long distance then it will accelarate indefinitely ?
for the Earth, this velocity turns out to be just about 11 km/sec. Meaning that even if the object fell form an infinite distance, it could only be moving at 11 km/sec when it strikes the surface of the Earth.
 
Janus got it right. That's also the escape velocity formula for a given distance r.
 
Janus said:
Assuming the two objects start at rest with respect to each other, then the maximum speed the falling object could reach before striking the second, no matter how far apart they started, is

V= \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}

I interpreted the question as being more general (i.e. for the minimum possible radius of an object), but of course this is correct for an individual gravitating mass.
 
Welcome to Physics Forums shunya!
Do anyone know any theory which explains this
The theories are Newtonian gravity/mechanics and (for 'high' speeds, 'huge' masses, etc) Einstein's General Relativity - which is so close to the Newtonian equations in 'ordinary' circumstances as to be indistinguishable.
 
shunya said:
Is there a safe distance between two objects if there is no other force to interfere ? Do anyone know any theory which explains this


Lagrange points come to mind
This should illustrate it better: http://www.physics.montana.edu/faculty/cornish/lagrange.html and the math itself: http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/LagrangePoints.html
 
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