Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 13 - Newton's Theory of Gravity - Exercises and Problems - Page 372: 7

Answer

(a) The free-fall acceleration at the surface of the sun is $274~m/s^2$ (b) The sun's free-fall acceleration at the distance of the earth is $5.90\times 10^{-3}~m/s^2$

Work Step by Step

(a) We can find the free-fall acceleration $g_s$ at the surface of the sun. $g_s = \frac{G~M_s}{R^2}$ $g_s = \frac{(6.67\times 10^{-11}~m^3/kg~s^2)(1.99\times 10^{30}~kg)}{(6.96\times 10^8~m)^2}$ $g_s = 274~m/s^2$ The free-fall acceleration at the surface of the sun is $274~m/s^2$. (b) We can find the sun's free-fall acceleration $g_s'$ at the distance of the earth. $g_s' = \frac{G~M_s}{R^2}$ $g_s' = \frac{(6.67\times 10^{-11}~m^3/kg~s^2)(1.99\times 10^{30}~kg)}{(1.50\times 10^{11}~m)^2}$ $g_s' = 5.90\times 10^{-3}~m/s^2$ The sun's free-fall acceleration at the distance of the earth is $5.90\times 10^{-3}~m/s^2$.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.