Physics Technology Update (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32190-308-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-308-2

Chapter 12 - Gravity - Conceptual Questions - Page 408: 9

Answer

See below.

Work Step by Step

The speed of an object orbiting a planet of mass $M$ from a radius $R$ is equal to $$v=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R}}$$ Therefore, if the radius above the planet is high (when the person is on the mountain) and the speed of the rock is great enough, the rock will enter orbit. Once it enters orbit and completes a full orbit about the moon, the rock will return to its original location.
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