Question

5. The radius of the Earth is approximately 6,000 kilometers. The acceleration of an astronaut in a perfectly circular orbit 300 kilometers above the Earth would be most nearly?

Answer 1

Answer:

a = 10 m/s²

Explanation:

given,

Radius of earth = 6,000 Km

distance from earth = 300 Km

distance from the earth =

        = 6000 x 10³ + 300 x 10³

        = 6300 x 10³ m

       = 6.3 x 10⁶ m

we know,

F = m a

gravitational force

$F = \dfrac{GMm}{r^2}$

$ma= \dfrac{GMm}{r^2}$

$a= \dfrac{GM}{r^2}$

G is gravitational constant = 6.67 x 10⁻¹¹ m³/kg.s²

M is mass of earth = 5.972 x 10²⁴ Kg

$a= \dfrac{6.67\times 10^{-11}\times 5.972 \times 10^{24}}{(6.3\times 10^6)^2}$

a = 10 m/s²

acceleration of an astronaut is equal to 10 m/s²