University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 8 - Momentum, Impulse, and Collision - Problems - Exercises - Page 267: 8.53

Answer

The center of mass is a distance of 2520 km from the center of Pluto.

Work Step by Step

We can find the ratio of Pluto's radius to Charon's radius. $\frac{1185~km}{625~km} = 1.896$ Let $m_c$ be the mass of Charon. Since $mass \propto r^3$, Pluto's mass $m_p = (1.896)^3~m_c$, which is $6.816\times m_c$ Let the center of Pluto be at the origin. $x_{cm} = \frac{m_px_p+m_cx_c}{m_p+m_c}$ $x_{cm} = \frac{0+m_c~(19700~km)}{6.816\times m_c+m_c}$ $x_{cm} = 2520~km$ The center of mass is a distance of 2520 km from the center of Pluto.
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