Final answer:
The gravitational forces exerted by the Earth and Moon on a person can be determined using Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation. By inputting the respective masses and distances into the formula, one can calculate the gravitational pull the Earth and Moon have on an individual standing on Earth's surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational pull that the Moon and Earth exert on an object is calculated using Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation. The force of gravity (F) between two masses is directly proportional to the product of their masses (m1 and m2), and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between their centers:
F = G * (m1 * m2) / r2
Where G is the gravitational constant (6.674 x 10-11 N(m/kg)2). To calculate the gravitational pull of the Moon on a person on Earth, we substitute the person's mass, the Moon's mass, and the semi-major axis of the Moon's orbit as the distance:
Fmoon = G * (mass of person * mass of Moon) / (distance to Moon)2
Similarly, to find the gravitational pull the Earth exerts on this person, we use the mass of the Earth and the Earth's radius for the calculation:
Fearth = G * (mass of person * mass of Earth) / (radius of Earth)2
These formulae allow us to compare the relative gravitational effects the Earth and Moon have on the person.