Final answer:
The acceleration due to gravity on a distant planet, calculated using the given GPE of an astronaut, mass, and height, is found to be 3.3 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object is given by the formula GPE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above the reference point. Given that the GPE of a 65 kg astronaut is 11,115 Joules when they are 46 meters above ground, we can solve for g as follows:
GPE = mgh
11,115 J = 65 kg × g × 46 m
To find g, we rearrange the formula:
g = GPE / (m × h)
g = 11,115 J / (65 kg × 46 m)
After calculating this, we find that the acceleration due to gravity on this planet is 3.3 m/s².