Newton was holding an apple of mass 125 g and thinking about the gravitational f
ID: 1291915 • Letter: N
Question
Newton was holding an apple of mass 125 g and thinking about the gravitational forces exerted on the apple by himself and by the Sun.
a) Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on the apple due to Newton, assuming that the distance from the apple to Newton's center of mass is 52.3 cm and Newton's mass is 89.9 kg.
b) Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on the apple due to the Sun.
c) Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on the apple due to the Earth.
Explanation / Answer
a) F1 = G*Mn*Ma/r^2 = (6.67e-11*89.9*0.125)/(0.523*0.523)
F1 = 2.74*10^-9 N
b) Ms = massof sun = 1.98e30 kg
r = 1.496e11m
F2 = (6.67e-11*1.98e30*0.125)/(1.496e11*1.496e11)
F2 = 7.376*10^-4 N
c)
Me = massof earth = 5.98e24 kg
r = 6.37e6m
F3 = (6.67e-11*5.98e24*0.125)/(6.37e6*6.37e6)
F3 = 1.228 N