What Are the Effects of Gravity on a 55.0 kg Ball?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of gravity on a ball with a mass of 55.0 kg. Participants are exploring concepts related to gravitational force, weight, and the readings of a spring scale.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to clarify the relationship between mass, gravitational force, and weight. Questions are raised about the correct interpretation of gravitational force and how it relates to the readings of a spring scale.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing confusion regarding the magnitude of gravitational force and how it is calculated. Some participants are providing guidance on the relationship between force and acceleration, while others are questioning the interpretations of spring scale readings.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the implications of using mass versus weight in calculations, and there is a focus on understanding the definitions and relationships between these concepts in the context of gravity.

tica86
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1)What is the weight of a ball of mass 55.0 kg?
I know the answer is 55.0*9.8
but for the following two question I don't get it :/

2)What is the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on it?

Would that be 9.8??


3)What force would a spring scale read if the ball were hanging from it?


Anyone please respond to question 2 and 3, thanks!
 
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for part two your answer(9.8) is wrong.It's acceleration... but you need force ... how can you relate them and get what you want?

for part 3...
in general,what does a spring scale indicate?
after answering this you will get the answer easily.
 
force= mass x acceleration. weight= mass x gravity. in this case they would be the same
 
Ok, just to be sure:


2) I'm still confused. Force is directly proportional to acceleration, correct?
So the magnitude of the gravitational force is 539?



3) A spring scale indicates weight. The spring scale would read 55 kg??
 
tica86 said:
Ok, just to be sure:


2) I'm still confused. Force is directly proportional to acceleration, correct?
So the magnitude of the gravitational force is 539?



3) A spring scale indicates weight. The spring scale would read 55 kg??

part 2 is right
part 3 ... you know what spring scale indicates(weight) but what you have written as your answer is something else.
 
were talking magnitudes here, force is not a vector in your case. so your force vector is

F = (55*9.8)j

|F| =[tex]\sqrt{539^{2}}[/tex] = 539

that might seem irrelevant, but when your forces have two components that's the process you need to do to find the magnitude.
 
The legend said:
part 2 is right
part 3 ... you know what spring scale indicates(weight) but what you have written as your answer is something else.



So for question 3 it would also be 539 N?
 

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