How Strong Is the Sun's Gravity at Earth's Orbit Distance?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the acceleration due to the Sun's gravity at Earth's orbit distance. Participants emphasize using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, with the Sun's mass approximated at 1.99x10^30 kg and the Earth-Sun distance at 150 million kilometers. The gravitational force is calculated using the formula Gm/r^2, where G is the gravitational constant. Additionally, the acceleration can also be derived from the Earth's orbital speed and radius. The calculations presented confirm the approach is correct for determining the Sun's gravitational influence on Earth.
guru
Messages
38
Reaction score
0
What is the acceleration due to gravity of the sun at the distance of the Earth's orbit?

i have no idea where to begin.
Help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The gravitational pull of the Sun on the Earth is the centripetal force keeping the Earth from flying off into the great beyond.
 
guru said:
What is the acceleration due to gravity of the sun at the distance of the Earth's orbit?

i have no idea where to begin.
Help

Find the mass of the sun, and the distance between the sun and the earth. Then, think about Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.
 
This is what i obtained
Sun's Mass: 1.99x10^30 kg,
earth-sun distance: 150x10^6 km.

law of gravitational = Gm/r^2
G=6.67*10^(-11)

((6.67*10^(-11)) * (1.99*10^30))/ (2.25*10^12)

is that right?
 
Last edited:
guru said:
What is the acceleration due to gravity of the sun at the distance of the Earth's orbit?

i have no idea where to begin.
Help

Probably the simplest and most direct approach is to use Newton's law of gravity.

Do you know what that is?
 
pervect said:
Probably the simplest and most direct approach is to use Newton's law of gravity.

Do you know what that is?
law of gravity = Gm/r^2
G=6.67*10^(-11)

((6.67*10^(-11)) * (1.99*10^30))/ (2.25*10^12)
right?
 
The acceleration due to the Sun's gravity at the location of the Earth is just

a = \frac {v^2}{R}

where v is the speed of the Earth around the Sun and R is the radius of Earth's orbit. You know R and you know the Earth travels a distance of 2\pi R in one year so you know its speed too.
 
guru said:
law of gravity = Gm/r^2
G=6.67*10^(-11)

((6.67*10^(-11)) * (1.99*10^30))/ (2.25*10^12)
right?

That should be right!
 
Back
Top