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Punchlinegirl
Apr21-05, 04:23 PM
At what altitude above Earth's surface would the gravitational acceleration be 3.53 m/s^2?

I used the equation
a= GM/r^2
G=6.67 x 10^-11 and M= 5.98 x 10^24
Solving for r gives 1.06 x 10^7 m which isn't right... can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Galileo
Apr21-05, 04:53 PM
Reread the question. You need the altitude above the Earth's surface, not the distance from the center of gravity of the earth.

Punchlinegirl
Apr21-05, 05:29 PM
How would I find that since all I know is the acceleration, mass and radius of the Earth?

whozum
Apr21-05, 05:30 PM
You know r = 1.06 x 10^7 m, the problem isnt asking for 'r'.

The problem is asking how far from earth's surface. You know 'r' of earth, how high above the earth is r = 1.06 x 10^7m?