AP Physics 1 Exam Question on Gravitational Force and Fields:

Question:

Two point masses, A and B, are located a distance of 3 meters apart from each other. Mass A has a value of 2 kg and mass B has a value of 4 kg. Calculate the gravitational force between the two masses.

Answer:

To calculate the gravitational force between two point masses, we can use Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that the force between two masses is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

The formula for gravitational force is given by:

F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2

where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.674 × 10^(-11) N(m^2/kg^2)), m1 and m2 are the masses of the two point masses, and r is the distance between them.

Given values: m1 = 2 kg m2 = 4 kg r = 3 m

Using the given values and the formula for gravitational force, we can calculate the force:

F = (6.674 × 10^(-11) N(m^2/kg^2)) * (2 kg * 4 kg) / (3 m)^2

F = (6.674 × 10^(-11) N(m^2/kg^2)) * (8 kg^2) / 9 m^2

F = (6.674 × 10^(-11) N(m^2/kg^2)) * (8 / 9) kg

F = (8 / 9) * (6.674 × 10^(-11) N(m^2/kg^2)) kg

F ≈ 5.914 × 10^(-11) N

Therefore, the gravitational force between the two masses A and B is approximately 5.914 × 10^(-11) N.