The International Space Station (ISS) has a mass of about 441,000 kg and orbits at a height of about 4.0 x 105 meters above the surface of Earth. If the average U.S. household uses about 40 billion joules (4.0 x 1010 J) of energy in a year, how many households could be powered for a year by the gravitational potential energy stored in the ISS? (The height of the ISS above Earth's surface is small enough that you can still use mgh as a reasonable approximation to calculate the gravitational potential energy.)

The International Space Station (ISS) has a mass of about 441,000 kg and orbits at a height of about 4.0 x 105 meters above the surface of Earth. If the average U.S. household uses about 40 billion joules (4.0 x 1010 J) of energy in a year, how many households could be powered for a year by the gravitational potential energy stored in the ISS? (The height of the ISS above Earth's surface is small enough that you can still use mgh as a reasonable approximation to calculate the gravitational potential energy.)

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections

1st Edition

ISBN:9781133939146

Author:Katz, Debora M.

Publisher:Katz, Debora M.

Chapter7: Gravity

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 14PQ: Since 1995, hundreds of extrasolar planets have been discovered. There is the exciting possibility...

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The International Space Station (ISS) has a mass of about 441,000 kg and orbits at a height of about 4.0 x 105 meters above the surface of Earth. If the average U.S. household uses about 40 billion joules (4.0 x 1010 J) of energy in a year, how many households could be powered for a year by the gravitational potential energy stored in the ISS?
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