Purchase Solution

Physics: Gravity forces and fields between two masses (earth and spacecraft)

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

See attached file.

Assume the earth to be a uniform spherical planet, mass M= (5.98 E 24) kg. (The number, in scientific notation, means '5.98 times 10 to the 24') The earth's radius is R= (6.37 E 6) m.

Part a. Find the force of gravity between the earth and a spacecraft whose mass is m= 36000 kg, which is at height h= 520,000 m above the surface.

Part b. From the definition of gravity field of the earth at the spaceship's location as 'the force the earth exerts on the spaceship divided by the mass of the spaceship' find the earth's field at that location.

Part c. Find the distance from the center of the earth to a point in space where the earth's gravity field is 2.5 nt/kg.

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

The solution explains the problem and the calculations to arrive at the answers to the questions.

Solution Preview

Part a.
Newton's gravitation law, (1) F = G M m / r^2 expresses the force F between two masses, M and m, with distance r between their centers of mass. The letter G is the 'universal gravitational constant', the same value when using (1) for any two objects in the universe. ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Classical Mechanics

This quiz is designed to test and improve your knowledge on Classical Mechanics.

The Moon

Test your knowledge of moon phases and movement.

Variables in Science Experiments

How well do you understand variables? Test your knowledge of independent (manipulated), dependent (responding), and controlled variables with this 10 question quiz.

Introduction to Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials

This quiz is for any area of science. Test yourself to see what knowledge of nanotechnology you have. This content will also make you familiar with basic concepts of nanotechnology.

Intro to the Physics Waves

Some short-answer questions involving the basic vocabulary of string, sound, and water waves.