Calculate the ratio of an explorer's weight on an asteroid to their wieght on earth, Wa / We. Lets say the asteroid has a mas of 1.5 X 1021 kg, while the Earth has larger madd of 6.4 X 1024kg. The ratio of the radius of the Earth to the radius of the asteroid is Re / Ra= 10.5. Express answer in scientific notation, as a decimal, and as a percentage.
I can not figure this out!! Could someone show me the steps? Please.
+33653 Force of planet on explorer (i.e. weight) = G*Mplanet*Mexplorer/R2 G is a constant; R is essentially, the radius of the planet. So:
Wa = G*1.5*1021*Mexplorer/Ra2
We = G*6.4*1024*Mexplorer/Re2
Hence Wa/We = (1.5*1021/6.4*1024)*(Re/Ra)2 → (1.5*1021/6.4*1024)*10.52
I'll leave you to crunch the numbers.
