Three solid spheres of mass M and radius R are placed in contact as shown in figure. Find the potential energy of the system ?

Explanation

To find the potential energy of the system of three solid spheres of mass \( M \) and radius \( R \) that are in contact, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Configuration
The three spheres are in contact with each other, and their centers form an equilateral triangle. The distance between the centers of any two spheres is equal to twice the radius \( R \) of the spheres.

### Step 2: Write the Formula for Gravitational Potential Energy
The gravitational potential energy \( U \) between two masses \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \) separated by a distance \( r \) is given by:
\[
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