Question #0944f

2 Answers
Jan 24, 2018

2.45 m/s^22.45ms2

Explanation:

If the value at the earth's surface is g, we knew from the law of universal gravitation that this can be calculated from the mass of the earth (M), the gravitational constant (G), and the radius of the earth (R).

g = GM/R^2g=GMR2

At a radius of 2*R the new value for acceleration (let's call it a) will be equal to:

a = GM/(2R)^2a=GM(2R)2
a = GM/(4R^2)a=GM4R2

With a little algebra we can see that this can be written as:
a = GM/(R^2)*1/4 = g*1/4 = g/4a=GMR214=g14=g4

Solving for a using the value we know for g.
a = 9.8/4 = 2.45 m/s^2a=9.84=2.45ms2

Jan 24, 2018

Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force of attraction F_GFG between two bodies of masses M_1 and M_2M1andM2 is directly proportional to the product of masses of the two bodies. It is also inversely proportional to the square of the distance rr between the two.

F_G =G (M_1.M_2)/r^2FG=GM1.M2r2 .......(1)
where GG is the Gravitational constant.
It has the value 6.67408 xx 10^-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-26.67408×1011m3kg1s2

If one of the objects is earth, mass M_eMe, force between an object of mass mm located at the earth's surface is

F_G =G (M_e.m)/R^2FG=GMe.mR2 ......(2)
where RR is radius of earth.

Comparing with equation

"Weight"=mgWeight=mg, we get
g= (GM_e)/R^2=9.8ms^-2g=GMeR2=9.8ms2 .....(3)

When the object is located at a height equal to radius of earth, its distance from centre of the earth is R+R=2RR+R=2R. (2) becomes

F_G =G (M_e.m)/(2R)^2FG=GMe.m(2R)2

If g^' is acceleration due to gravity at this location we get

g^'= 1/4(GM_e)/R^2 .........(4)

Dividing (4) by (3) and rearranging we get

g^'=g/4
g^'=9.8/4=2.45ms^-2