Question

gravitational force between two points masses m and M separated by a distance d is f now a point masses 5m is placed next to m so that the total force on M=XF then X=?​

Answer 1

a. If r is the distance between two point masses m and M, then the gravitational force on m due to mass M is F

$F = GMm/r2.</p><p></p><p>$

Since the gravitational force between two point masses is independent of the presence of other masses, so if a point mass 3m is placed next to m, the force on M due to m is F=

$\frac{gmm}{ {r}^{2} } </p><p></p><p></p><p>$

b. Total force on the body of mass M is F, i.e.,

$f = \frac{gm(m + 3m)}{ {r}^{2} } = \frac{4gmm}{ {r}^{2} } = 4f$