Distance from sun to earth= 1.5 x10^11m

  • Thread starter Thread starter Littlemin5
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Earth Sun
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the point between Earth and the Sun where the gravitational forces exerted by both bodies on an object are equal, resulting in a net gravitational force of zero. The masses used are Me = 5.98 x 1024 kg for Earth and Ms = 2 x 1030 kg for the Sun, with a distance of 1.5 x 1011 m between them. The user attempted to solve the problem using the gravitational force equation F = Gm1m2/r2 but arrived at an incorrect distance of 1.49 x 1011 m, indicating a misunderstanding of the problem's requirements.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
  • Familiarity with gravitational force calculations
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
  • Knowledge of the concept of gravitational equilibrium
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of gravitational equilibrium in multi-body systems
  • Learn how to apply the gravitational force equation in practical scenarios
  • Explore the effects of body radii on gravitational calculations
  • Investigate the use of numerical methods for solving gravitational problems
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on gravitational forces and celestial mechanics, as well as educators looking for examples of gravitational equilibrium problems.

Littlemin5
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Please help!

1. Homework Statement
Find the point between Earth and the Sun at which an object an be placed so that the net gravitatinal force exerted by Earth an the sun on this object is zero.

Me=5.98 x 10^24kg
Ms=2 x 10^30kg
Distance from sun to earth= 1.5 x10^11m

2. Homework Equations

F=Gm1m2/r^2 --> not sure if this is right?

3. The Attempt at a Solution

So I tried to manipulate the situation and thought I could do:
When x equals the distance from the sun.

(G(Ms)) / x^2 = (G(Me))/ (d-x)^2

When I plugged in the numbers though I got 1.49x10^11m as my answer. I don't feel like this is right because it's pretty much the full distance between them. Is this not the way to do it, and if not how do I go about doig this problem?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


I have not done this one in a while, but I believe that you may need to take the radii of the bodies into account. Since in that formula for Gravitational force, r is the distance between the centers.
 

Similar threads

How Long for a Beam of Light to Reach Earth?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
Finding Balancing Point Between Earth and Sun
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
11K
Calculating distance of Mars from the Sun based on two elongations
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Find the gravitational force between then sun and the earth
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
An object is launched from the Earth to escape the Sun
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
What is the distance between the Sun and the Earth?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Earth's Acceleration Toward the Sun
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
8K
When do I include the Earth's radius in questions involving satellites?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Homework: Calculate the work done to accelrate a car
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
A comet at its closest approach to the Sun
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K