Combined gravitational field strength

In summary, combined gravitational field strength is a measure of the gravitational force exerted by multiple masses on an object at a specific point in space. It is calculated by summing up the individual gravitational fields of each mass in the system. Factors such as the masses and distances of the objects in the system affect the strength of the gravitational field, and the direction of the field determines the path and acceleration of objects in the system. While the direction of combined gravitational field strength can be negative, the value itself cannot be negative due to the nature of gravity as an attractive force.
  • #1
superaznnerd
59
0

Homework Statement



2 masses, 5k and 10kg are fixed in place at the coordinates 1,0 and 1,1 respectively. what combined gravitational field strength do they produce at the point 0,0?

Homework Equations



g = GM/r^2

The Attempt at a Solution


total g = G(5)/(1)^2 +G(5)/2
not the right answer though -- answer is 6.16 X 10^-10 @ 22.5 degrees
please help!
 
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  • #2


You can't add them like that because the 2 fields point in different directions. You have to add them vectorially, using the Pythagorean theorem.
 

Related to Combined gravitational field strength

What is combined gravitational field strength?

Combined gravitational field strength is a measure of the gravitational force exerted by multiple masses on an object at a specific point in space. It takes into account the masses and distances of all objects in the system.

How is combined gravitational field strength calculated?

Combined gravitational field strength is calculated by summing up the individual gravitational fields of each mass in the system. This can be represented by the equation F = G(m1m2)/r^2, where G is the universal gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between them.

What factors affect combined gravitational field strength?

The main factors that affect combined gravitational field strength are the masses and distances of the objects in the system. The larger the masses and the closer the distances, the stronger the combined gravitational field strength will be.

How does the direction of combined gravitational field strength affect objects?

The direction of combined gravitational field strength determines the path and acceleration of objects in the system. Objects will be pulled towards the direction of the strongest gravitational field, which is typically towards the larger and more massive objects.

Can combined gravitational field strength be negative?

No, combined gravitational field strength cannot be negative. This is because gravity is always an attractive force and is represented as a positive value in calculations. However, the direction of the combined gravitational field strength can be negative if it is pulling an object in the opposite direction of its motion.

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