Question
Three objects of mass m are located at three corners of a square of edge length l, as shown in the diagram. The (x,y) co-ordinates of the masses are (l,0), (0,l), and (l,l).
a) What is the direction of the gravitational acceleration at the origin? Express your answer in terms of compass directions, taking the y-axis to be North. If the answer is "North", enter "N", if the answer is "Southwest", enter "SW".
b) If m = 60.0 kg and l = 1.00 m, what is the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration at the origin?
Explanation / Answer
-(Gm/l2 )i -(Gm/l2 )j -(Gm/22l2 )i -(Gm/22l2 )j
= -1.35 [ (Gm/l2 )i + (Gm/l2 )j ]
=1.91 * [Gm/l2 ] SW
b)
m=60 k.g
l=1 m
therefore gravitational accelarion at the origin = 7.64 * 10-9