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Homework Statement
AS seen in the figure, two spheres of mass m and a third sphere of mass M form a equilateral triangle. The net gravitational force on the central sphere from the three other spheres is zero. (a) What is M in terms of m? (b) If we double the value of m4, what then is the magnitude of the net gravitational force on the central sphere?
My apologies I am on one of my universities computers that has all the programs like locked up and it's a mac, and I'm not that familiar with macs to begin with, so my only option at the moment is to describe the picture...
Picture a equilateral triangle... at one vertex picture a sphere that is larger than the rest with a mass M. At the other two vertexes of the triangle picture a sphere that is smaller than the one of mass M that each of masses m. At the center of the triangle picture a sphere of mass m4...
Imagine a equilateral triangle with this orientation
Where the sphere of mass M is at the top most vertex of the triangle (with the point of view of being the bottom of being the side of the triangle closests towards the bottom of the screen).
Answer: (a) M = m (b) 0
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I agree with the answer the worksheet provides me for (b) 0
I however disagree with the answer the worksheet provides me for (a). I got M = sqrt(2)m. I'm not exactly sure if I am wrong or the answer on the sheet is right (there have been worksheets in the past that my professor has made that have had wrong answers)...
Can anyone confirm that the answer the answer sheet is right or if I am?