Four identical particles of mass m are kept at the four corners of a square. If the gravitational force exerted on one of the masses by the other masses is ( 2 2+132 ) Gm2L2, the length of the sides of the square is
- 4L
- 3L
- 2L
- L2
Answer
(1) 4L
Solution
[figure]
Side =a: F= Gm2a2 (adjacent masses), F'= Gm2( 2a)2= Gm22a2 (diagonal mass)
the two F's are at 90 , their resultant 2F lies along the diagonal, along F'
Fnet= 2 Gm2a2+ Gm22a2= ( 2 2+12 ) Gm2a2
( 2 2+12 ) Gm2a2= ( 2 2+132 ) Gm2L2
a2=16L2 a=4L
Answer: (1)