Calculate Distance Above Earth's Surface: 1.4x Radius

AI Thread Summary
At a distance above Earth's surface where gravitational force is reduced to 18% of its surface value, the distance can be expressed as a multiple of Earth's radius. The calculation involves setting the gravitational force equations equal to each other, leading to the conclusion that the distance is approximately 1.4 times the Earth's radius. The term "multiple" refers to expressing the distance in relation to the Earth's radius, denoted as "Re." The confusion arises from interpreting the calculation results, which should align with the textbook answer of 1.4 Re. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping gravitational dynamics at varying distances from Earth.
Vesper89
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At a certain distance above the surface of the Earth, the graviational force on an object is reduced to 18% of its value at Earth's surface. Determine this distance and express it as a multiple of Earth's radius.

FYI the Earth's mass is 5.98x10^24 kg
and the Earth's radius is 6.38x10^6 m

What I did was this: Gmm/r² = (Gmm/r²)(9/50) The left side is the gravitational force on the object at the surface of the Earth and the right side is %18 of that force (radius is unkown). Since Gmm is constant in both i came up with:

1/r² = 9/50r²
1/6.38x10^6 = 9/50r²
r = 1070m

But I don't understand what they mean in by a multiple of Earth's radius. In the back of my book the answer is 1.4 Re. Is my answer wrong? Or do I just need to take it another step? Thanks for any help!
 
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DO NOT PUT IN THOSE MEANINGLESS FIGURES!

Instead:
1. What is meant by a multiple?
In particular: In SYMBOLS, what is a multiple of the Earth's radius?
 
I assume its a ratio...in the back of the text the answer is 1.4 Re
(r subscript e...Radius earth) I'm not sure what it means or its significance:frown: .
 
What does it mean to multiply?

Do you think that has anything to do with the word "multiple"??
 
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