Working with Newton's law of gravitation
Mars has a mass of about 6.4 x 10^23 kg, and its moon Phobos has a mass of about 9.6 x 10^15 kg. If the magnitude of the gravitational force between the two bodies is 4.6 x 10^15 N, how far apart are Mars and Phobos?
Please show the work, answer and the formulas you used. Thanks!
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 4:50 pm ad1c9bdddfhttps://brainmass.com/physics/work/working-newtons-law-gravitation-10464
SOLUTION This solution is FREE courtesy of BrainMass!
According to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force of attraction between two bodies of mass m1 and m2 is given by,
F = (G m1 m2)/R^2
where G = 6.673*10^-11 m3 kg-1 s-2 is the gravitational constant and m1 and m2 are the masses.
We will now substitute the values
F = (6.673*10^-11 * 6.4*10^23 * 9.6*10^15)/R^2
it is given that, F = 4.6*10^15 N
thus,
4.6*10^15 = (6.673*10^-11 * 6.4*10^23 * 9.6*10^15)/R^2
or, R^2 = (6.673*10^-11 * 6.4*10^23 * 9.6*10^15)/4.6*10^15
= 89128069565217.39
or R = 9440766.36 m
= 9440.7 Km
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com December 24, 2021, 4:50 pm ad1c9bdddf>https://brainmass.com/physics/work/working-newtons-law-gravitation-10464