Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 5 - Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion - Problems - Page 139: 38

Answer

The true weight of the satellite on the planet is $24511.5N$.

Work Step by Step

To find the weight of the satellite on the planet's surface, we need to find the planet's gravitational acceleration $g$ on its surface, which is calculated by $$g=\frac{GM}{r^2} (1)$$ The planet's radius $r=4.15\times10^6m$. $GM$ is not known yet, so we need to find it. The formula for a satellite's orbital period over a planet is $$T=\frac{2\pi r^{3/2}}{\sqrt{GM}}$$ $$GM=\Big(\frac{2\pi r^{3/2}}{T}\Big)^2=\frac{4\pi^2r^3}{T^2}$$ We know $T=2hr=7.2\times10^3s$. The distance from the satellite to the planet's core is $r=4.1\times10^5+4.15\times10^6=4.56\times10^6m$. Therefore, $$GM=7.22\times10^{13}Nm^2/kg$$ Plug $GM$ back to (1) to find $g$, we have $$g=4.19m/s^2$$ Now we can calculate the weight of the satellite: $mg=5850\times4.19=24511.5N$
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