- #1
Rijad Hadzic
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- 20
Homework Statement
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) with mass m= 1850, maps the surface of the moon from an orbital altitude of 50 km. what are the magnitude and direction of the force the LRO experiences due to the moons gravity?
Homework Equations
Fg = (GMm)/r^2
The Attempt at a Solution
First I started by changing the units to SI
Mass of moon M = .07x10^24 kg
Mass of orbiter m = 1850 kg
Gravitational constant = 6.637 x 10^-11
the radius = (radius of moon + orbital altitude ) = 1.738 x 10^6 (value from my book) + 50,000 =
1788000
Now I just use the formula: [itex] F_g = (6.637x10^{-11})(.07x10^24)(1850) / 1788000^2 = 2688.478434 N [/itex]
but my books answer is 2.83 x 10^3 N
I don't understand what I did wrong as my answer comes from the formula... is there some trick I am missing??