Modified MasteringAstronomy with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for The Essential Cosmic Perspective (7th Edition)
7th Edition
ISBN: 9780321929358
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Textbook Question
Chapter 4, Problem 35EAP
Testing Gravity. Scientists are constantly trying to learn whether our current understanding of gravity is complete or must be modified. Describe how the observed motion of spacecraft headed out of the solar system (such as the Voyager spacecraft) can be used to test the accuracy of our current theory of gravity.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
You have negotiated with the Omicronians for a base on the planet Omicron Persei 7. The architects working with you to plan the base need to know the acceleration of a freely falling object at the surface of the planet in order to adequately design the structures. The Omicronians have told you that the value is gOP7=7.29 flurg/grom^2, but your architects use the units meters/second^2, and from your previous experience you know that both the Omicronians and your architects are terrible at unit conversion. Thus, it's up to you to do the unit conversion. Fortunately, you know the unit equality relationships: 5.24flurg=1meter and 1grom=0.493second. What is the value of gOP7 in the units your architects will use, in meter per second squared?
Some people dismiss the validity of scientific theories by saying that they are “only” theories. The law of universal gravity is a theory. Does this mean that scientists still doubt its validity? Explain.
1.) In what way(s) is Einstein's general theory of relativity superior to Newton's theory of universal gravitation? For each way, give an example of a case where Einstein's theory provides a more accurate description of physical phenomena than does Newton's. (Select all that apply.)
A.) Newton's theory originally held that the orbit of a spherical object about another will be an open curve for which the point of closest approach slowly precesses. Einstein's theory correctly predicts that gravitational forces lead to orbits of closed ellipses.
B.) Einstein's theory correctly predicts the deflection of light passing near a massive object, while Newton's theory predicts a deflection that is one-half the observed deflection.
C.) Einstein's theory correctly predicts that the orbit of a spherical object about another will be an open curve for which the point of closest approach slowly precesses. Newton's theory originally held that gravitational forces lead to orbits of closed…
Chapter 4 Solutions
Modified MasteringAstronomy with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for The Essential Cosmic Perspective (7th Edition)
Ch. 4 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 4 - Check your understanding of some of the many types...Ch. 4 - Check your understanding of some of the many types...Ch. 4 - Check your understanding of some of the many types...Ch. 4 - Check your understanding of some of the many types...Ch. 4 - Define speed, velocity, and acceleration. What are...Ch. 4 - Define momentum and force. What do we mean when we...Ch. 4 - What is free-fall, and why does it make you...Ch. 4 - Prob. 4EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 5EAP
Ch. 4 - Define kinetic energy, radiative energy, and...Ch. 4 - Define and distinguish temperature and thermal...Ch. 4 - Prob. 8EAPCh. 4 - Summarize the universal law of gravitation both in...Ch. 4 - What is the difference between a bound and an...Ch. 4 - Prob. 11EAPCh. 4 - Explain why orbits cannot change spontaneously,...Ch. 4 - Explain how the Moon creates tides on Earth. Why...Ch. 4 - How do the tides vary with the phase of the Moon?...Ch. 4 - Prob. 15EAPCh. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - Decide whether the statement makes sense (or is...Ch. 4 - A car is accelerating when it is (a) traveling on...Ch. 4 - Compared to their values on Earth, on another...Ch. 4 - Which person is weightless? (a) a child in the air...Ch. 4 - Consider the statement “There’s no gravity in...Ch. 4 - To make a rocket turn left, you need to (a) fire...Ch. 4 - Compared to its angular momentum when it is...Ch. 4 - Prob. 31EAPCh. 4 - If Earth were twice as far from the Sun, the force...Ch. 4 - According to the law of universal gravitation,...Ch. 4 - If the Moon were closer to Earth, high tides would...Ch. 4 - Testing Gravity. Scientists are constantly trying...Ch. 4 - How Does the Table Know? Thinking deeply about...Ch. 4 - 37. Your Ultimate Energy Source. Roles: Scribe...Ch. 4 - Weightlessness. Astronauts are weightless when in...Ch. 4 - Einstein’s Famous Formula. a. What is the meaning...Ch. 4 - The Gravitational Law. a. How does quadrupling the...Ch. 4 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 4 - Head to Foot Tides. You and Earth attract each...Ch. 4 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 45EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 46EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 47EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 48EAPCh. 4 - Space Station. Visit a NASA site with pictures...Ch. 4 - Prob. 50EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 51EAP
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- 1. using Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation and some kinematics calculation we can calculate the mass of the planet. For this, use this equation below: ?planet =(9.340×1024)×(vmax)×(Pstar)1/3×(Mstar)2/3 Given: - vmax = 1.5 m/s - Pstar = 3.5 days - Mstar = 1.148 Msun, where Msun = 1.98847×1030 kg. This calculation is not shown.arrow_forwardWhat Do You Already Know About Rockets? Think about how spacecraft change course once they are in space. Do spacecraft use rocket thrusters to maneuver in space, or are rockets only used to launch the spacecraft?arrow_forwardThe International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth in a nearly circular orbit that is 345 km above Earth's surface. 1) How many hours does it take for the ISS to make each orbit? (Express your answer to three significant figures.) 2) Some of the experiments performed by astronauts in the ISS involve the effects of "weightlessness" on objects. What gravitational force does Earth exert on a 12.0-kg object in the ISS? Express your answer in newtons. (Express your answer to three significant figures.) 3) What gravitational force does Earth exert on a 12.0-kg object in the ISS? Express your answer as a fraction of the force that Earth would exert on the object at Earth's surface. (Express your answer to three significant figures.)arrow_forward
- 1. Why were the main reasons why the idea that the Earth was at the center of the universe lasted so long? 2. Discuss in 2 paragraphs the observations made by Galileo that disproved Geocentrism. Which one do you think was the most important? 3. Write down a hypothesis and observational experiment to test one of Newton’s laws of motion. EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING! 4. One of the first exoplanets discovered orbits the star 51 Pegasi with a period of just 4.2 days. 51 Pegasi is very similar to the Sun. Use Kepler’s laws to find the distance (in astronomical units) between the planet (unofficially named Bellerophon) and its star. SHOW YOUR WORK! 5. How does halving the distance between two objects affect the gravitational force between them? 6. Suppose the Sun were somehow replaced by a star with five times as much mass. What would happen to the gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun? 7. How long would the Earth year last in this last case? (hint: Newton’s version of Kepler’s 3rd…arrow_forwardUsing the GUFSA Template. Round off your final answer to the nearest hundredths. As we already know, rockets travel at very high speeds. How much time will it take a rocket (in seconds) to reach the moon if the moon is 238,900 miles away from the Earth, and the rocket is travelling 1,800,000 centimeters per minute? (express your answer in meters per second)arrow_forwardKepler's 1st law says that our Solar System's planets orbit in ellipses around the Sun where the closest distance to the Sun is called perihelion. Suppose I tell you that there is a planet with a perihelion distance of 2 AU and a semi-major axis of 1.5 AU. Does this make physical sense? Explain why or why not.arrow_forward
- Spacecraft have been sent to Mars in recent years. Mars is smaller than Earth and has correspondingly weaker surface gravity. On Mars, the free-fall acceleration is only 3.8 m/s². What is the orbital period of a spacecraft in a low orbit near the surface of Mars?arrow_forwardNew Horizons was launched by NASA lastJanuary 19, 2006 to a mission to the dwarfplanet Pluto. On July 15, 2015, it flew 12,500km above the surface of Pluto, making it thefirst successful spacecraft to explore the dwarfplanet. Explain how the gravity of Jupiterhelped New Horizons to propel faster to Pluto.arrow_forward1. Why is mass more fundamental than weight? 2. What comes first to your mind when you read the word gravity?arrow_forward
- The following question is referring to the concept of Newton’s Law of Gravitation on inferring gravitational force, weight, and acceleration due to gravity and Physical significance of gravitational field. Solve for the unknown quantities and round-off your final answers in the nearest hundredths. 1. Planet A and Planet B have a mass of 4 x 1024 kg and 4.5 x 1025 kg. The gravitational force between the two planets is 4.8 x 1020. How apart is Planet A from Planet B? with step by step explanation.arrow_forwardExplain the folling data regarding artificial gravity. Just explain why these formulas were needed to ultimately find the artificial gravity(4.26 m/s^2)arrow_forwardIn your own words, describe the meaning of Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion. Do not use any equations, do not describe the equations in words, just tell me the conceptual meaning.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage LearningHorizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...PhysicsISBN:9781305960961Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningGlencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
- Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...
Physics
ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...
Physics
ISBN:9781305960961
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...
Physics
ISBN:9780078807213
Author:Paul W. Zitzewitz
Publisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Physics
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Cengage Learning
General Relativity: The Curvature of Spacetime; Author: Professor Dave Explains;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7V3koyL7Mc;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY