Recit 12: Chapter 13

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Recit Teacher: Recit section:

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
Solution: The weight of the astronaut on earth is wE = GME · m/RE . In the cabsule:
 
ME · m 1 ME · m 1
wCap = G = G 2 = wE
(2RE )2 4 RE 4

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 ]

Solution: Note that g ∝ r−2

2
gsurf ace Rplanet = galt (Rplanet + 2Rplanet )2
 2
Rplanet
galt = gsurf ace
3Rplanet
1 1
galt = gsurf ace = (16) = 1.77777777777777777777777777777778
9 9

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 (ı̂ + ̂)
s2 4

Solution: The answer is B. Draw the FBD of mA and calculate the magnitude of the
gravitational forces due to each mass:
m · mA
Fdown = G
s2
m · mA
Flef t = G
s2
m · mA
Fdiag = G
2s2
Now, calculate for the x and y components. In terms of the unit vectors:
→
− →
− →
− →
−
F = F down + F lef t + F diag
= (0ı̂ − Fdown ̂) + (−Flef t ı̂ + 0̂) + (−Fdiag cos 45◦ ı̂ − Fdiag sin 45◦ ̂)
√ √ !
m · mA 1 2 1 2
= −G ̂ + ı̂ + ı̂ + ̂
s2 2 2 2 2

which simplifies to B.

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

Solution: Recall that: r

2GMP
vescape =
RP
For the “another” planet:
s s
√ √
0
r
0 2GM P 2G(2MP ) 2GMP
vescape = = = 2 = 2vescape
RP0 RP RP
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.)

Solution: Let mA = 5.00 kg, mB = 10.0 kg and m = 0.100 kg. The initial distances of m
with mA and mB are rA1 = 0.400 m and rB1 = 0.600 m, respectively. When m moved to
the right by 0.400 m, the new distances are rA2 = 0.800 m and rB1 = 0.200 m. Then, use
the conservation of mechanical energy:
E1 = E2
K1 + U1 = K2 + U2
   
GmA GmB 1 2 GmA GmB
0+ − m− m = mv + − m− m
rA1 rB1 2 rA1 rB1
and solve for v. You will get 6.01 × 10−5 m/s.
For checking purposes, we have: U1 = −1.9466 × 10−10 J, U2 = −3.7541 × 10−10 J and
K2 = 1.8075 × 10−10 J.

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.)

T 2π
Solution: Note that for both satellites: = √ , thus
r3/2 GME
 3/2  2/3
TA TB rA TA rA TA
3/2
= 3/2
→ = → = = (5.196202532)2/3 = 3.00002 (1)
rA rB rB TB rB TB
or just 3.00