Newton was holding an apple of mass 333 g and thinking about the gravitational f
ID: 2265136 • Letter: N
Question
Newton was holding an apple of mass 333 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 54.3 cm and Newton's mass is 72.5 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
Gravitational force F = GMm/R^2
Fnewton = (6.774E-11)(72.5)(.333)/(.543)^2 = 5.55E-9
FEarth = (.333)(9.81) = 3.267
Fsun = (6.774E-11)(1.99E30)(.333)/(149.6E9)^2 = 2.006E-3