Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 4 - Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion - Check Your Understanding - Page 90: 10

Answer

The correct drawing is (d).

Work Step by Step

The gravitational force exerted on object 3 by object 1 is $$F_{13}=G\frac{m_1m_3}{r_{13}^2}$$ The gravitational force exerted on object 3 by object 2 is $$F_{23}=G\frac{m_2m_3}{r_{23}^2}$$ $F_{13}$ and $F_{23}$ are in opposite direction. For the net gravitational force on object 3 to be zero, $$\sum F_3=F_{13}-F_{23}=G\frac{m_1m_3}{r_{13}^2}-G\frac{m_2m_3}{r_{23}^2}=0$$ $$\frac{m_1}{r_{13}^2}-\frac{m_2}{r_{23}^2}=0$$ $$m_1r_{23}^2-m_2r_{13}^2=0$$ $$m_1r_{23}^2=m_2r_{13}^2$$ We know that $m_2\gt m_1$. For the equation to be equal, it is necessary that $r_{13}^2\lt r_{23}^2$ and thus, $r_{13}\lt r_{23}$ Therefore, object 3 needs to be closer to object 1 than object 2. (d) is the correct drawing.
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