1. Find the mass of each ball:
* We know weight (W) = mass (m) * acceleration due to gravity (g)
* W = 490 N, g = 9.8 m/s²
* m = W / g = 490 N / 9.8 m/s² = 50 kg
2. Use Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation:
* F = G * (m1 * m2) / r²
* F = gravitational force
* G = gravitational constant (6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²)
* m1 and m2 = masses of the two balls (50 kg each)
* r = distance between their centers (3 m)
3. Plug in the values and calculate:
* F = (6.674 x 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²) * (50 kg * 50 kg) / (3 m)²
* F ≈ 1.85 x 10⁻⁸ N
Therefore, the gravitational force between the two metal balls is approximately 1.85 x 10⁻⁸ N.
Important Note: This force is incredibly small! It's much smaller than the forces caused by things like air resistance or even the slightest touch. This is why we don't usually notice gravitational forces between everyday objects.
