The gravitational force that Earth exerts on an object is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the center of the Earth and the object. When Bill is on the surface of Earth, 4,000 miles from the center, the gravitational force is 600 Newtons. What is the gravitational force (in Newtons) that the Earth exerts on him when he's standing on the moon, 240,000 miles from the center of the earth? Express your answer as a fraction.
+36916 The force of gravity is given by the equation F = G m1m2 / r2
where G = gravitational constant
at 4000 miles 600 = G m1m2/ (4000)2
or simply 600 = k / (4000)2 Then k = 600(4000)2
at 240 000 miles F = G m1m2 / (240000)2 ( we are ignoring the gravity of the moon for this problem)
F = k / ( 240 000)^2
= 600(4000)^2 / 2400002 = .1666 N <==== ( basically weightless !)
