Suppose an alien civilization has a space station in circularorbit around its home planet. The station’s orbital radius istwice the planet’s radius. (a) If an alien astronaut has weightw just before launch from the surface, will she be weightlesswhen she reaches the station and floats inside of it? (b) If not, what will be the ratio of her weight in orbit to her weight onthe planet’s surface?
Gravitational force
In nature, every object is attracted by every other object. This phenomenon is called gravity. The force associated with gravity is called gravitational force. The gravitational force is the weakest force that exists in nature. The gravitational force is always attractive.
Acceleration Due to Gravity
In fundamental physics, gravity or gravitational force is the universal attractive force acting between all the matters that exist or exhibit. It is the weakest known force. Therefore no internal changes in an object occurs due to this force. On the other hand, it has control over the trajectories of bodies in the solar system and in the universe due to its vast scope and universal action. The free fall of objects on Earth and the motions of celestial bodies, according to Newton, are both determined by the same force. It was Newton who put forward that the moon is held by a strong attractive force exerted by the Earth which makes it revolve in a straight line. He was sure that this force is similar to the downward force which Earth exerts on all the objects on it.
Suppose an alien civilization has a space station in circular
orbit around its home planet. The station’s orbital radius is
twice the planet’s radius. (a) If an alien astronaut has weight
w just before launch from the surface, will she be weightless
when she reaches the station and floats inside of it? (b) If not, what will be the ratio of her weight in orbit to her weight on
the planet’s surface?
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