If a 78.0 kg astronaut were in a spacecraft 6R from the center of the earth, what would the astronaut's weight be on earth, and in the spacecraft?

Question

Physics

Odin Zhang

19 May, 07:32

If a 78.0 kg astronaut were in a spacecraft 6R from the center of the earth, what would the astronaut's weight be on earth, and in the spacecraft?

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Answers (1)

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Judith Leonard · Answer 1

Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of radius R = GM/R^2 = 9.8 m/s^2

weight at surface of earth = mg = 78 x 9.8 = 764.4 N

acceleration due to gravity at 6R = GM / (6R) ^2

= GM/R^2 / 36

=9.8/36 = 0.27 m/s^2

weight on spacecraft = 78 x 0.27 = 21.2 N