An astronaut working on the Moon tries to determine the gravitational constant G by throwing a Moon rock of mass m with a velocity of v vertically into the sky. The astronaut knows that the Moon has a density pof 3340 kg/m³ and a radius R of 1740 km. (a) Show with (1) that the potential energy of the rock at height h above the surface is given by: 4TG E = R (2) 3 R+h (b) Next, show that the gravitational constant can be determined by: (1. R G = 87 pR² R+h (3) (c) What is the resulting G if the rock is thrown with 30 km/h and reaches 21.5 m?

icon
Related questions
Question
An astronaut working on the Moon tries to determine the gravitational constant G by throwing
a Moon rock of mass m with a velocity of v vertically into the sky. The astronaut knows that the
Moon has a density p of 3340 kg/m³ and a radius R of 1740 km.
(a) Show with (1) that the potential energy of the rock at height h above the surface is given by:
4тG
R
E =
-mp
3
(2)
R+h
(b) Next, show that the gravitational constant can be determined by:
3 v?
G =
8n pR?
R
(3)
R+h
(c) What is the resulting G if the rock is thrown with 30 km/h and reaches 21.5 m?
Transcribed Image Text:An astronaut working on the Moon tries to determine the gravitational constant G by throwing a Moon rock of mass m with a velocity of v vertically into the sky. The astronaut knows that the Moon has a density p of 3340 kg/m³ and a radius R of 1740 km. (a) Show with (1) that the potential energy of the rock at height h above the surface is given by: 4тG R E = -mp 3 (2) R+h (b) Next, show that the gravitational constant can be determined by: 3 v? G = 8n pR? R (3) R+h (c) What is the resulting G if the rock is thrown with 30 km/h and reaches 21.5 m?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer