Understanding the Formula
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states:
* F = G * (m1 * m2) / r²
Where:
* F is the force of attraction (in Newtons)
* G is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N⋅m²/kg²)
* m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects (in kilograms)
* r is the distance between the centers of the two objects (in meters)
Calculations
1. Identify the known values:
* m1 = 100 kg
* m2 = 100 kg
* r = 2.0 m
* G = 6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N⋅m²/kg²
2. Plug the values into the formula:
* F = (6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N⋅m²/kg²) * (100 kg * 100 kg) / (2.0 m)²
3. Calculate the result:
* F ≈ 1.67 x 10⁻⁸ N
Answer
The force of attraction between the two 100 kg masses that are 2.0 m apart is approximately 1.67 x 10⁻⁸ Newtons. This is a very small force, which is why we don't typically notice gravitational attraction between everyday objects.
