Nasteroid of mass 58,000 kg carrying a negative charge of 15 μc is 180 m from a second asteroid of mass 52,000 kg carrying a negative charge of 11 μc. what is the magnitude of the net force the asteroids exert upon each other, assuming we can treat them as point particles? (g = 6.67 × 10-11 n • m2/kg2, k = 1/4 πε0 = 8.99 × 109 n • m2/c2)

The net force between the the asteroids will and the negative sign indicates that they repel each other.

Explanation:

The Coulombs forces exerted by asteroids:

Charge on asteroid-1 =

Charge on asteroid-2 =

Distance between the asteroids = 180 m

Since, the charges are negative they will repel each other.

The gravitational force between the asteroids:

Mass of the asteroid -1 = = 58000 kg

Mass of the asteroid -2 = = 52000 kg

G =

The gravitational force is an attractive force.

Since, the charges are negatively charged they will repel each other.

The net force =

Hence, the net force between the the asteroids will and the negative sign indicates that they repel each other.