Chapter 5, Problem 35PCE

The Force Exerted on the Moon In Figure 5-37 we show the Earth, Moon, and Sun (not to scale) in their relative positions at the time when the Moon is in its third-quarter phase. Though few people realize it, the force exerted on the Moon by the Sun is actually greater than the force exerted on the Moon by the Earth In fact, the force exerted on the Moon by the Sun has a magnitude of F_SM = 4.34 × 10²⁰N , whereas the force exerted by the Earth has a magnitude of only F_EM = 1.98 × 10²⁰N. These forces are indicated to scale in Figure 5-37. Find (a) the direction and (b) the magnitude of the net force acting on the Moon. (c) Given that the mass of the Moon is M_M = 7.35 × 10²²kg , find the magnitude of its acceleration at the time of the third-quarter phase.

Figure 5-37 Problems 35