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 375: 66

Answer

a) $3.72\times10^{24}\;\rm kg$ b) $5.31\times 10^6\;\rm m$

Work Step by Step

You were on the planet Physics when you toss the rock up. So, the free-fall acceleration on this planet is given by $$y_f=y_i+v_{iy}t+\frac{1}{2}a_yt^2$$ The initial and final height is your and, so $y_f-y_i=0$ $$0=v_{iy}t-\frac{1}{2}gt^2$$ $$g=\dfrac{2v_{iy}\color{red}{\bf\not}t}{t^{\color{red}{\bf\not}2}}=\dfrac{2v_{iy}}{t}$$ Plugging the known; $$g =\dfrac{2(11)}{2.5}=\bf 8.8\;\rm m/s^2$$ Now we can use Newton's gravitational law exerted on the rock on its surface to find the mass of the planet. $$\sum F_r=F_g=mg$$ $$\dfrac{GM\color{red}{\bf\not}m}{R^2}=\color{red}{\bf\not}mg$$ where $m$ is the mass of the rock and $M$ is the mass of the planet. $$\dfrac{GM }{R^2}= g\tag 1$$ Now we are given the period of your ship around the planet Physics which is 230 minutes and we know that its distance from the center of the planet is $r=2R$. So according to Kepler's third law, $$T^2=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2}{GM}\right)r^3$$ Hence, $$T^2=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2}{GM}\right)(2R)^3=\left(\dfrac{4\pi^2}{GM}\right)(8R^3)$$ $$T^2 = \dfrac{32\pi^2R^3}{GM} $$ Noting that $GM/R^2=g$, so $$T^2 = \dfrac{32\pi^2R }{g } $$ So, the planet's radius is given by $$R = \dfrac{gT^2 } {32\pi^2} $$ Plugging the known: $$R = \dfrac{8.8(230\times 60)^2 } {32\pi^2} $$ $$R=\color{red}{\bf 5.31\times 10^6}\;\rm m\tag b$$ Solving (1) for $M$; $$M=\dfrac{gR^2}{G}$$ Plugging the known; $$M=\dfrac{8.8(5.31\times 10^6)^2}{6.67\times 10^{-11}}$$ $$M=\color{red}{\bf 3.72\times10^{24}}\;\rm kg\tag a$$
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