Newton was holding an apple of mass 109 g and thinking about the gravitational f
ID: 1377973 • Letter: N
Question
Newton was holding an apple of mass 109 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 49.9 cm and Newton's mass is 84.1 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
Part A)
Apply F = GMm/r2
F = (6.67 X 10-11)(.109)(84.1)/(.499)2
F = 2.46 X 10-9 N
Part B)
The sun is 1.496 X 1011 m from the Earth and has a mass of 1.991 X 1030 kg
F = (6.67 X 10-11)(.109)(1.991 X 1030)/(1.496 X 1011)2
F = 6.47 X 10-4 N
Part C)
On the Earth, the gravitational force is the weight
F = mg = (.109)(9.8) = 1.07 N