What is the Weight of an Astronaut on a Shuttle 518917m Above Earth?

[mohlam12]

we have a shuttle in space taht is 518917 m above earth, if an astrinaut weight 900N, how much he will weight on the shuttle?

here is what i did so far,

the gravity on the shuttle = (6.67E-11* 6E24)/(518917+6.37E6)^2= 8.43m/ss


6.37E6 is the radius of Earth in m
6.67E-11 is the universal gravitational system
6E24 is mass of Earth in Kg

now his weight on Earth is 900N --> 91.84 Kg

so in the shuttle he weights 91.84 / (9.8/8.43) = 79 Kg
i don't think that s right because if he weight 79Kg he is not going to fly on the shuttle, and i think a gravity of 8.43 m/ss is too much for a shuttle that is 519 Km above Earth ??

 

[learningphysics]

we have a shuttle in space taht is 518917 m above earth, if an astrinaut weight 900N, how much he will weight on the shuttle?

here is what i did so far,

the gravity on the shuttle = (6.67E-11* 6E24)/(518917+6.37E6)^2= 8.43m/ss


6.37E6 is the radius of Earth in m
6.67E-11 is the universal gravitational system
6E24 is mass of Earth in Kg

now his weight on Earth is 900N --> 91.84 Kg

so in the shuttle he weights 91.84 / (9.8/8.43) = 79 Kg
i don't think that s right because if he weight 79Kg he is not going to fly on the shuttle, and i think a gravity of 8.43 m/ss is too much for a shuttle that is 519 Km above Earth ??

You've calculated the mass. You've calculated g on the shuttle. Weight is just mg=91.84*8.43=774N

 

[BobG]

Everything is correct except for one thing.

kg is a measure of mass. Your mass doesn't change regardless of where you are. Your final answer has to be in Newtons.

In other words, the original mass (about 91.77 kg) times the gravity on the shuttle.

 

[tony873004]

I think your weight would be 0. You'd only have weight if the shuttle could hover without orbiting at that altitude. Then you could compute the weight (w=ma) a = GM/(earth radius + altitude)^2 . But if the shuttle is orbiting, and you're in it, you're both in freefall and you are weightless. Verify this by stepping on a scale.

 

[mohlam12]

but don't u think that for a shuttle that is 514 km above Earth should have a gravity less than 8.43 m/s/s ?

 

[dextercioby]

No,why...?Your calculations seem correct.And yes,the weight is 0,due to free fall...

Daniel.

 

[BobG]

True, since he's not applying a force against anything (both he and the shuttle are 'falling' at the same rate).

But, unless it's a trick question, the 774 N is what I think the question wants.

 

[learningphysics]

I think your weight would be 0. You'd only have weight if the shuttle could hover without orbiting at that altitude. Then you could compute the weight (w=ma) a = GM/(earth radius + altitude)^2 . But if the shuttle is orbiting, and you're in it, you're both in freefall and you are weightless. Verify this by stepping on a scale.

I don't think the question is asking that. It doesn't give the shuttle as being in orbit. I think it's simply asking the force exerted by the Earth on the astronaut.

 

[dextercioby]

Then it must be a heck of a poor wording from the author...Any normal person would interpret "shuttle in space that is 518917 m above earth" as a shuttle in free fall."how much he will weight on the shuttle ??"...

Daniel.

 

[mohlam12]

I don't think the question is asking that. It doesn't give the shuttle as being in orbit. I think it's simply asking the force exerted by the Earth on the astronaut.

the shuttle is in orbit yeah :| so?

 

[dextercioby]

So,according to common sense and Newtonian physics,the weight is ZERO...

Daniel.