Question

Determine the mass of the moon if you are given the following data (Given: Mass of Earth, Force acting on the Moon due to Earth, and the distance between the centers of Earth and the Moon).

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

If we call

M_E = mass of the earth

M_0 = mass of the moon

R = distance between the earth and the moon

Then the gravitational force between the earth and the moon is given by

`F=G(M_EM_O)/(R^2)`

Solving for M_O gives

`\boxed{M_O=(FR^2)/(GM_E)\text{.}}`

Now, when F = force acting on the Moon due to Earth, R = the distance between the centres of Earth and the Moon, and M_E = mass of the earth are put into the above equation, we can determine the M_O the mass of the moon.