164k views
2 votes
What would be the weight of a 59.1-kg astronaut on a planet with the same density as Earth and having twice Earth's radius?

User Anaxin
by
6.5k points

1 Answer

4 votes
You could always directly use F = G M m / r², but that takes forever.

It is best to know that, on Earth's surface, the astronaut would weigh
F = m g = 579.2 N
where m = 59.1 kg and g = 9.8 m/s².

You then notice from F = G M m / r² that doubling the mass of the earth would double his weight and doubling the radius would give 1/4 his original weight. So...
F = 1/4 * 2 * 579.2 N = 290 N
User Ramz
by
6.5k points