Final answer:
Using Newton's law of universal gravitation and the given values for mass and gravitational force, we can solve for the distance between the satellite and the center of the Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how far a 380 kg satellite is from the center of the Earth when it is experiencing a gravitational force of 1500 N, we use Newton's law of universal gravitation, which is stated as F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2. Given that the gravitational force (F) is 1500 N, the mass of the satellite (m1) is 380 kg, and the mass of the Earth (m2) is approximately 5.972 × 10^24 kg, we can solve for r, the distance between the satellite and the Earth's center. The gravitational constant (G) is 6.674 × 10^-11 N(m^2/kg^2).
Reorganizing the equation to solve for r gives us r^2 = G * (m1 * m2) / F, and taking the square root of both sides provides us with the distance r. After substituting in the values for G, m1, m2, and F, and solving for r, we find the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite.