Re: Electrostatics problem

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPOMONA.EDU>]

P.S.  Of course, my geometric proof can be easily extended to the unequal
mass case treated by Michael.  Simply replace step 3 with the following:

3. From the triangle of forces for body 1, the law of sines says:

        sinT1/F = sinT3/(m1*g)

   From the triangle of forces for body 2, the law of sines says:

        sinT2/F = sinT3/(m2*g)

Thus, sinT1/sinT2 = m2/m1

John Mallinckrodt      mailto:ajm@csupomona.edu
Cal Poly Pomona          http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm