Two objects have masses of #32 MG# and #23 MG#. How much does the gravitational potential energy between the objects change if the distance between them changes from #7 m# to #34 m#?

1 Answer
Apr 30, 2018

I will assume by "MG" you mean megagrams, notated #"Mg"#. The gravitational force between objects of masses of the magnitude of #10^-3# is very negligible. If my assumption is false merely follow my method!

Recall,

#F_"G" = G * (m_1m_2)/r^2#

By extension, the gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the bodies, such that,

#F_"G" propto 1/r^2#

Given,

#m_1 = 32"Mg"#, and #m_2 = 23"Mg"#

#r_1 = 7"m"#, and #r_2=34"m"#

Hence,

#DeltaF_"G" = Gm_1m_2(1/r_1^2 - 1/r_2^2) approx 960"N"#

is the difference in gravitational force between the objects as a function of increasing radius.