Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 13 - Gravitation - Questions - Page 378: 9b

Answer

If C moves farther away from the origin, $F_{net}$ gradually changes in direction to the left of the positive y axis. The limit of this change is that $F_{net}$ would point directly at B.

Work Step by Step

By symmetry, the x-components of the two gravitational forces on A cancel out and $F_{net}$ is directed in the positive y direction initially. If C moves farther away from the origin, the gravitational force on A due to C decreases, and $F_{net}$ gradually changes in direction to the left of the positive y axis. As C continues to moves farther away from the origin, $F_{net}$ continues to move more to the left of the positive y axis. Note that as the distance of C from the origin approaches infinity, the gravitational force on A due to C approaches 0. The limit of this change is that $F_{net}$ would point directly at B.
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