Problem B10:
Consider the two objects below. One is very small (point object) with mass m, and
the other is a very thin circular ring of radius R and mass M.
The object of mass m is located on the axis of the ring as shown in the figure.
The angle α is the angle between the axis and a line drawn from the
object to the ring. Note: sin(α)=n1/n2. What
is the gravitational potential energy U of the mass and ring in the figure if
U=0 when the object is at the center of the ring?
If U=GMm/(Rn3) in the figure, what is n3?
All the integers are unitless,
![](aprob2b10.png)
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