Question

I did a lab report on gravitation. In the lab, we explored what the relationship is between the distance between two objects and their force of gravity. The independent variable was distance (m) while the dependent variable was force of gravity (N). When I found the slope, I used the equation: change in force/change in 1/r^2, and ended up getting 70Nm^2. My teacher said “the slope is related to the value of the masses in the experiment”. The question that I need to answer is: Use the slope to calculate the value if the masses in the experiment. How do I do that?

Answer 1

I suspect your slope will be be related directly to the product of the masses.

Answer 2

I am not sure I understand but maybe something like this?

let z = 1/r^2

F = G M1 M2 z
dF/dz = G M1 M2 = 70 ?
G = 6.67*10-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2
dF/dz = 6.67*10^-11 M1 M2 = 70

M2 M2 = (70/6.67)10^11