Question

The radius of Earth is about 6450 km. A 7070 N spacecraft travels away from Earth. What is the weight of the spacecraft at a height 6450 km above Earth’s surface? Answer in units of N. What is the weight 33700 km above Earth’s surface? Answer in units of N.

Answer 1

(a). The weight of spacecraft at height 6450 km is
`1.767*10^(3)\ N`.

(b). The weight of spacecraft at height 33700 km is 182.46 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Radius of earth = 6450 km

Weight of spacecraft = 7070 N

We need to calculate the weight of the spacecraft at a height 6450 km above Earth’s surface

Using formula of weight

`W_(r)=W((r_(e))/(r_(e)+h))^2`

Where, W = weight of spacecraft

h = height

Put the value into the formula

`W_(r)=7070*((6450*10^(3))/(6450*10^3+6450*10^3))^2`

`W_(r)=1.767*10^(3)\ N`

(b). We need to calculate the weight of spacecraft at height 33700 km

Using formula of weight

`W_(r)=7070*((6450*10^(3))/(6450*10^3+33700*10^3))^2`

`W_(r)=182.46\ N`

Hence, (a). The weight of spacecraft at height 6450 km is
`1.767*10^(3)\ N`.

(b). The weight of spacecraft at height 33700 km is 182.46 N.