The Total solution for NCERT class 6-12
Twoheavy spheres each of mass 100 kg and radius 0.10 m are placed 1.0 m apart on ahorizontal table. What is the gravitational force and potential at the midpoint of the line joining the centers of the spheres? Is an object placed atthat point in equilibrium? If so, is the equilibrium stable or unstable?
The situation isrepresented in the given figure:
Mass of each sphere, M =100 kg
Separation between the spheres, r =1m
X is the mid point betweenthe spheres. Gravitational force at point X will be zero. This is becausegravitational force exerted by each sphere will act in opposite directions.
Gravitational potential at point X:
Anyobject placed at point X will be in equilibrium state, but the equilibrium isunstable. This is because any change in the position of the object will changethe effective force in that direction.