Recit 12: Chapter 13

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1. Space capsule. An astronaut orbits the earth in a space capsule whose height above the earth
is equal to the earth’s radius. How does the weight of the astronaut in the capsule compare to
her weight on the earth?
A. It is equal to her weight on earth.
B. It is equal to one-half of her weight on earth.
C. It is equal to one-third of her weight on earth.
D. It is one-fourth her weight on earth.
2. The surface The gravitational acceleration on a planet’s surface is 16.0 [m/s2 ]. What is the
gravitational acceleration at an altitude of one planet diameter above the SURFACE of the
planet?

A. 1.60 [m/s2 ] B. 1.78 [m/s2 ] C. 4.00 [m/s2 ] D. 5.33 [m/s2 ]

3. Cornered. Consider a point mass A located at one of the corner of a square with length s.
Three identical objects of mass m are also located at the other corners of square as shown
in the figure. What is the net gravitational force experienced by point mass mA due to the 3
objects?

→
− m · mA √

A. F = −G 1 + 2 (ı̂ + ̂)
s2
√ !
→
− m · mA 2
B. F = −G 1 + (ı̂ + ̂)
s2 4
→
− m · mA
C. F = −G (ı̂ + ̂)
s2
√ !
→
− m · mA 2
D. F = −G 2
(ı̂ + ̂)
s 4

4. Escape speed. A certain planet has an escape speed vescape . If another planet of the same size
has twice the mass as the first planet, its escape speed will be
√ √
A. 2vescape B. vescape /2 C. 2vescape D. vescape / 2
5. Gravity Tug. The 0.100-kg sphere is released from rest at the position shown below, with its
center 0.400 m from the center of 5.00-kg mass. Assume that the only forces on the 0.100-kg
sphere are the gravitational forces exerted by the other two spheres and that the 5.00-kg and
10.0-kg spheres are held in place at their initial postions. What is the speed of the 0.100-kg
sphere when it has moved 0.400 m to the right from its initial position? (6 pts.)

6. Satellites. Consider two of the Earth’s satellite, A and B, one with orbital period of TA =
8.21 days and the other at TB = 1.58 days. What is the ratio of the orbital radius rA to rB ?
(5pts.)