Synchronous communications satellites are placed in a circular orbit that is 3.59 107 m above the surface of the earth. What is the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity at this distance?

Respuesta :

Answer: [tex]0.223 m/s^{2}[/tex]

Explanation:

We can solve this with the Law of Universal Gravitation and knowing the acceleration due gravity [tex]g[/tex] of an object above the surface of the planet decreases with the distance (height) of this object from the center of the planet.

Well, according to the law of universal gravitation:

[tex]F=G\frac{m_{E}m}{r^2}[/tex]  (1)

Where:

[tex]F[/tex] is the module of the force exerted between both bodies

[tex]G=6.67(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}}[/tex] is the gravitational constant

[tex]m_{E}=5.98(10)^{24} kg[/tex] is the mass of the Earth

[tex]m[/tex] are the mass of each communications satellite

[tex]r=R_{E}+h[/tex] is the distance between the center of the Earth and the satellite

[tex]R_{E}=6.38(10)^{6} m[/tex] is the radius of the Earth

[tex]h=3.59(10)^{7} m[/tex] is the height of the satellite, measured from the Earth's surface

On the other hand, we know according to Newton's 2nd law of motion:

[tex]F=mg[/tex]  (2)

Combining (1) and (2):

[tex]G\frac{m_{E}m}{r^2}=mg[/tex]  (3)

Isolating [tex]g[/tex]:

[tex]g=\frac{G M_{E}}{r^2}[/tex]  (4)

Remembering [tex]r=R_{E}+h[/tex]:

[tex]g=\frac{G M_{E}}{(R_{E}+h)^2}[/tex]  (5)

[tex]g=\frac{(6.67(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}})(5.98(10)^{24} kg)}{(6.38(10)^{6} m+3.59(10)^{7} m)^2}[/tex]  

Finally:

[tex]g=0.223 m/s^{2}[/tex]