Concept explainers
Gravitational Tug of War At some point along the direct path from the center of the Earth to the center of the Moon, the gravitational force of attraction on a spacecraft from the Moon becomes greater than the force from the Earth. (a) How far from the center of the Earth does this occur? (b) At this location, how far is the spacecraft from the surface of the Moon? How far is it from the surface of the Earth?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 12 Solutions
EBK PHYSICS
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Organic Chemistry (8th Edition)
Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (8th Edition)
Campbell Essential Biology (7th Edition)
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition)
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (13th Edition)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
- Estimate the gravitational force between two sumo wrestlers, with masses 220 kg and 240 kg, when they are embraced and their centers are 1.2 m apart.arrow_forwardThe astronaut orbiting the Earth in Figure P3.27 is preparing to dock with a Westar VI satellite. The satellite is in a circular orbit 600 km above the Earth’s surface, where the free-fall acceleration is 8.21 m/s2. Take the radius of the Earth as 6 400 km. Determine the speed of the satellite and the time interval required to complete one orbit around the Earth, which is the period of the satellite. Figure P3.27arrow_forwardHow far from the center of the Sun would the net gravitational force of Earth and the Sun on a spaceship be zero?arrow_forward
- The Sun has a mass of approximately 1.99 1030 kg. a. Given that the Earth is on average about 1.50 1011 m from the Sun, what is the magnitude of the Suns gravitational field at this distance? b. Sketch the magnitude of the gravitational field due to the Sun as a function of distance from the Sun. Indicate the Earths position on your graph. Assume the radius of the Sun is 7.00 108 m and begin the graph there. c. Given that the mass of the Earth is 5.97 1024 kg, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force on the Earth due to the Sun?arrow_forwardA planet has two moons of equal mass. Moon 1 is in a circular orbit of radius r. Moon 2 is in a circular orbit of radius 2r. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the planet on Moon 2? (a) four times as large as that on Moon 1 (b) twice as large as that on Moon 1 (c) equal to that on Moon 1 (d) half as large as that on Moon 1 (e) one-fourth as large as that on Moon 1arrow_forwardA planet has two moons with identical mass. Moon 1 is in a circular orbit of radius r. Moon 2 is in a circular orbit of radius 2r. The magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the planet on Moon 2 is (a) four times as large (b) twice as large (c) the same (d) half as large (e) one-fourth as large as the gravitational force exerted by the planet on Moon 1.arrow_forward
- If a spacecraft is headed for the outer solar system, it may require several gravitational slingshots with planets in the inner solar system. If a spacecraft undergoes a head-on slingshot with Venus as in Example 11.6, find the spacecrafts change in speed vS. Hint: Venuss orbital period is 1.94 107 s, and its average distance from the Sun is 1.08 1011 m.arrow_forwardLet gM represent the difference in the gravitational fields produced by the Moon at the points on the Earths surface nearest to and farthest from the Moon. Find the fraction gM/g, where g is the Earths gravitational field. (This difference is responsible for the occurrence of the lunar tides on the Earth.)arrow_forwardIn Example 2.6, we considered a simple model for a rocket launched from the surface of the Earth. A better expression for the rockets position measured from the center of the Earth is given by y(t)=(R3/2+3g2Rt)2/3j where R is the radius of the Earth (6.38 106 m) and g is the constant acceleration of an object in free fall near the Earths surface (9.81 m/s2). a. Derive expressions for vy(t) and ay(t). b. Plot y(t), vy(t), and ay(t). (A spreadsheet program would be helpful.) c. When will the rocket be at y=4R? d. What are vy and ay when y=4R?arrow_forward
- A geosynchronous Earth satellite is one that has an orbital period of precisely 1 day. Such orbits are sueful for communication and weather observation because the satellite remains above the same point on Earth (provided it orbits in the equatorial plane in the same direction as Earth’s rotation). Calculate the radius of such an orbit based on the data for Earth in Appendis D.arrow_forwardThe mass of the Earth is approximately 5.98 1024 kg, and the mass of the Moon is approximately 7.35 1022 kg. The Moon and the Earth are separated by about 3.84 108 m. a. What is the magnitude of the gravitational force that the Moon exerts on the Earth? b. If Serena is on the Moon and her mass is 25 kg, what is the magnitude of the gravitational force on Serena due to the Moon? The radius of the Moon is approximately 1.74 106 m.arrow_forwardThe gravitational force exerted on an astronaut on the Earths surface is 650 N directed downward. When she is in the space station in orbit around the Earth, is the gravitational force on her (a) larger, (b) exactly the same, (c) smaller, (d) nearly but not exactly zero, or (e) exactly zero?arrow_forward
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage LearningGlencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-HillCollege PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781285737027Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage Learning
- Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningCollege PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781305952300Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology ...PhysicsISBN:9781305116399Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning