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Grade 10Mechanics

Two small bodies of masses 2.00 kg and 4.00 kg are kept at rest at a separation of 2.0 m. Where should a particle of mass 0.10 kg be placed to experience no net gravitational force from these bodies? The particle is placed at this point. What is the gravitational potential energy of the system of three particles with usual reference level?

Profile image of Hrishant Goswami
12 Years agoGrade 10
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1 Answer

Profile image of Deepak Patra
12 Years ago
Sol. Let 0.1 kg man is x m from 2kg mass and (2 – x) m from 4 kg mass. ∴ 2 * 0.1/x^2 = - 4 * 0.1/ (2 - x)^2 Or 0.2/x^2 = - 0.4/(2 - x)^2 Or 1/x^2 = 2/(2 - x)^2 or (2 - x)^2 = 2 x^2 Or 2 – x = √2 x or x(r base 2 + 1)^2 = 2 Or x = 2/2.414 = 0.83 m from 2kg mass.