Two heavy spheres each of mass and 10 m apart on a horizontal table. The gravitational force at the midpoint of the line joining the center of the spheres is ____.

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Detailed Solution

Concept: Here we have to find whether the wheat ear sphere is stable or unstable, thus we should know the gravitational field.
As per the data given in the above question,

AB = 10m
Assuming P as the midpoint, then PA= PB= 0.5m
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Gravitational field due to mass M1, at P
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along PA

along PA
Similarly gravitational field to mass M2 at P
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along PB

along PB
The net gravitational field at P is 0, when the field due to masses are equal and opposite.
Therefore, the gravitational potential at P is,
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Thus, the net gravitational field at P is zero, therefore, objects placed at P will be in equilibrium and the equilibrium will be unstable equilibrium.
Hence, the answer is 0.

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