PDA

View Full Version : Weight on another planet


tandoorichicken
Dec14-03, 01:01 PM
Help with this: I dont know how to not use the mass or radius of Earth.

Determine what your weight would be on a planet that had twice times the mass of the earth and three times Earth's radius. (there is a was to figure this our without knowing the radius or the mass of the Earth.)

Doc Al
Dec14-03, 01:52 PM
Use the universal law of gravity. You don't need to know the mass or radius of the earth. Compare the weight on earth to the weight on the other planet. Think in terms of ratios.

ShawnD
Dec15-03, 04:28 AM
now lets say the old weight is equal to 1, you'll see why.
Old weight:
= Gm1m2/r^2
= 1


New weight:
= G(2m1)m2/(3r)^2
= 2Gm1m2/9r^2
= (2/9)Gm1m2/r^2
= (2/9)(1)
= 2/9


your weight on this new planet will 2/9 times your current weight.