Gravitation: Calculating Accel. Due to Gravity at 1.43x10^8 m

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the acceleration due to gravity at a distance of 1.43 × 10^8 m above Earth's surface, the formula used is G*mE/r^2. The correct values for G (6.674E-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2), the mass of Earth (5.98E24 kg), and the radius (r) must account for the distance from the Earth's center, which is 1.43 × 10^8 m plus the Earth's radius (approximately 6.37 × 10^6 m). One participant initially calculated an acceleration of 0.0195 m/s^2 but later adjusted their understanding and recalculated to 0.0179 m/s^2, confirming the importance of accurately defining r. The discussion emphasizes the significance of correctly interpreting the distance in gravitational calculations.
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Homework Statement



1.A satellites are placed in a circular orbit that is 1.43 × 10^8 m above the surface of the earth. What is the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity at this distance

Homework Equations



1.I used G*mE/r^2

The Attempt at a Solution



1. Got an answer of .0195m/s^2 I think I get this and have no idea why it is wrong.
 
Last edited:
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What values did you use for G, mE, and r?
 
Is the satellite 1.43\cdot 10^8 m above the surface of the earth, or 1.43\cdot 108 m above the surface of the earth?

Using the former, I got a result only slightly different from yours. Remember that the r in that formula is the distance between the center of the Earth and the satellite, not from the surface of the Earth and the satellite.
 
O thax I didn't realize it was saying above the surface. I meant 1.43x10^8. :)

using 6.674E-11 for G

Mof earth= 5.98E24

r=149380000

I get an answer of .0179, does that check out?
 
Last edited:
Got it thax
 

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