What Is the Net Gravitational Force on a Sphere at the Origin?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the net gravitational force on a 20.0 kg sphere located at the origin due to two other particles. The user applied the law of universal gravitation, F = GmM/r^2, to determine the x and y components of the forces from the other masses. However, there is confusion regarding the formulas used, particularly in the application of the gravitational force components and the resultant vector calculation. The user arrived at a magnitude of 2.612E-7 N and an angle of 282.2 degrees but suspects an error in their calculations. Clarifications on the correct formulas and methods for determining the gravitational forces are sought.
singinglupine
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The masses and coordinates of three particles are as follows: 20.0 kg, (0.50, 1.00) m; 309.0 kg, (-1.00, -1.00) m; 18.0 kg, (0.00, -0.50) m. What is the gravitational force on a 20.0 kg sphere located at the origin due to the other spheres, magnitude and direction? Give the direction as an angle in degrees counter clockwise with respect to the the + x-axis.

I have split the forces into x and y components using the F = (Gm1m2)/r^2 equation.
So for my x-forces I get:
F = (309)(20)G/2 * (1/sqrt(2)) ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (20)(20)G/1.25 * (.5/sqrt(1.25))

y-forces:
F = (309)(20)G/2 * (1/sqrt(2)) ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (18)(20)G/.25 ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (20)(20)G/1.25 * (1/sqrt(1.25))

Then I took the sum of the Xs squared and the sum of the Ys squared and then the square root to find the magnitude of the resultant vector. I got 2.612E-7 N.
Then for the degrees I took the inverse tan ( sum of the Ys/sum of the Xs) +180 deg to get it in the third quadrant for a result of 282.2 deg. Somewhere I've done something wrong because I'm getting this incorrect, where did I make a mistake?
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi singinglupine! Welcome to PF! :smile:

(have a square-root: √ :wink:)
singinglupine said:
So for my x-forces I get:
F = (309)(20)G/2 * (1/sqrt(2)) ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (20)(20)G/1.25 * (.5/sqrt(1.25))

y-forces:
F = (309)(20)G/2 * (1/sqrt(2)) ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (18)(20)G/.25 ----> this is a negative force pulling down
F = (20)(20)G/1.25 * (1/sqrt(1.25))

Sorry, but I don't understand what formula you've applied here. :redface:

Use mMr/r3 :smile:
 


tiny-tim said:
Hi singinglupine! Welcome to PF! :smile:

(have a square-root: √ :wink:)Sorry, but I don't understand what formula you've applied here. :redface:

Use mMr/r3 :smile:


Thanks for the welcome :) I used the law of universal gravitation where
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