Law of Gravitation: Calculate Astronaut Weight 6.37 × 106 m Above Earth

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An astronaut weighing 800 Newtons on Earth's surface will have a different weight at 6.37 × 10^6 meters above Earth due to the inverse square law of gravitation. The relevant formula is Gm1m2/r^2, where r is the distance from the center of the Earth. As the distance increases, the gravitational force decreases significantly, leading to a lower weight for the astronaut. Participants in the discussion express confusion about applying the formula correctly and the distances involved. Understanding the calculations and distances is crucial for determining the astronaut's weight at that altitude.
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Homework Statement



An astronaut weighs 8.00 × 102 Newtons on the
surface of Earth. What is the weight of the
astronaut 6.37 × 106 meters above the surface of
Earth?
(1) 0.00 N (3) 1.60 × 103 N
(2) 2.00 × 102N (4) 3.20 × 103 N

Homework Equations


Gm1m2/r^2


The Attempt at a Solution


When I used my calculator it gave a completely different answer... am guessing I used the wrong formula, which should I use?
 
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Thats the correct formula but I suspect you are using it wrongly.
The r^2 says that the force decreases as the square of the distance from the centre of the earth

What are the distances in the two cases?
 

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