The attractive gravitational force between a spherical body of mass M and another spherical body of mass m is given by F = GMm/r² where r is the distance between the centers of the two masses, and G is the gravitational constant. You are told that a satellite of small mass m orbits the earth (mass M) with a frequency f revolutions per second. You are told that the satellite is a distance h above the surface of the earth and the radius of the earth is RE. If you are given the values of m, G, f, h and RE. Can we determine the mass of the Earth? What assumptions (if any) do we need to make? Does the mass of the satellite matter?

The attractive gravitational force between a spherical body of mass M and another spherical body of mass m is given by F = GMm/r² where r is the distance between the centers of the two masses, and G is the gravitational constant. You are told that a satellite of small mass m orbits the earth (mass M) with a frequency f revolutions per second. You are told that the satellite is a distance h above the surface of the earth and the radius of the earth is RE. If you are given the values of m, G, f, h and RE. Can we determine the mass of the Earth? What assumptions (if any) do we need to make? Does the mass of the satellite matter?

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections

1st Edition

ISBN:9781133939146

Author:Katz, Debora M.

Publisher:Katz, Debora M.

Chapter11: Collisions

Section11.5: One-dimensional Elastic Collisions

Problem 11.5CE: If a spacecraft is headed for the outer solar system, it may require several gravitational...

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