Three masses 200 kg, 300 kg and 400 kg are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with sides 20 m. They are rearranged on the vertices of a bigger triangle of side 25 m and with the same centre. The work done in this process is J. (Gravitational constant G = 6.7 10-11 N m2/kg2)
- 4.77 10-7
- 1.74 10-7
- 9.86 10-6
- 2.85 10-7
Answer
(2) 1.74 10-7
Solution
Potential energy of the system: U = - G(m1m2 + m2m3 + m3m1)a
m1m2 + m2m3 + m3m1 = 200 300 + 300 400 + 400 200 = 2.6 105 kg2
Work done W = Uf - Ui = G(2.6 105) ( 120 - 125 )
W = 6.7 10-11 2.6 105 0.01
W = 1.74 10-7 J
Answer: (2)