Question

Solve the following problem: What is the gravitational force acting on the truck sitting on the Earth's surface? Earth's mass = 5.98 x 1024 kg, truck's mass = 1000 kg (2204|bs), the radius of the Earth is 6.38 x 106 m. The Universal constant (G) is = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 / kg?​

Answer 1

The gravitational force acting on the truck sitting on the Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gravity is the force that attracts two objects with mass toward each other. The formula for calculating gravitational force (F) is given by Newton's law of gravitation: F = (G * m₁ * m₂) / r², where G is the gravitational constant, m₁ and m₂ are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance between their centers. In this case, we want to find the force between the Earth and the truck. Earth's mass (m₁) is 5.98 x 10²⁴ kg, the truck's mass (m₂) is 1000 kg, and the radius of the Earth (r) is 6.38 x 10⁶ m. The gravitational constant (G) is given as 6.67 x 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg.

Plugging in the values, we get:

`\[ F = \frac{(6.67 * 10^(-11) \, \text{N m}^2/\text{kg}) * (5.98 * 10^(24) \, \text{kg}) * (1000 \, \text{kg})}{(6.38 * 10^(6) \, \text{m})^2} \]`

After performing the calculations, we find that the gravitational force (F) is approximately 9.8 N. This is the force with which the Earth attracts the truck toward its center. This force is commonly referred to as weight when the object is near the Earth's surface. Therefore, the truck experiences a gravitational force of about 9.8 N, directed toward the center of the Earth.

Understanding gravitational forces is crucial in various fields, including physics and engineering, as it helps explain phenomena such as planetary motion, satellite orbits, and the everyday experience of weight. The gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the masses, highlighting the importance of the distance factor in gravitational interactions.