Question

Dylan has a weight of 720 N when he is standing on the surface of the Earth. What would his weight (the gravitational force due to the Earth) be if he tripled his distance from the center of the Earth by flying in a spacecraft?

His weight would be_____N when the distance from the center of the Earth is tripled.

Answer 1

F = K M m / R^2 gravitational attraction on mass m

F = m g F = weight of person of mass m

F2 / F1 = R1^2 / R2^2 = (R1 / R2)^2

F2 = (R1 / 3 R1)^2 = 1/9 F1

The persons weight would be reduced to 720 N / 9 = 80 N