Quick easy graviational problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Demin
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
To determine how fast the Earth must spin for a 75 kg person at the equator to feel weightless, a force balance between gravitational force and centripetal acceleration is required. The gravitational force acting on the person is calculated using the formula Fg = G * (Mearth * m) / r^2. As the Earth spins faster, the normal force becomes negligible when the person is about to lose contact with the ground, indicating that the gravitational force equals the centripetal force. The key equation to solve is GMm/r^2 - N = m*v^2/r, where N approaches zero for weightlessness. Understanding these relationships is crucial for solving the problem effectively.
Demin
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



How fast would the earth(Massearth =5.98X10^24 KG, Radius Earth = 6.4X10^6 m) have to spin on it axis so a 75kg person at the equator would be weightless.

Homework Equations



T^2= kr^3
Fg = G m1 m2 / r^2


The Attempt at a Solution



i know that first i need 2 find the W or the person then put the weight equal to some equation that i don't know =/ .. some 1 please help me ;P
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Perform a force balance for a person standing on the equator and set that equal to the centripedal acceleration. Next, what does it mean to be weightless?
 
dwintz02 said:
Perform a force balance for a person standing on the equator and set that equal to the centripedal acceleration. Next, what does it mean to be weightless?

weightless = u weight 0 N ;/ i still haven't figured it out .. do u mean

(G)(75kg)(5.98X10^24)/6.4X10^6 = V^2/r


? please respond
 
For a person standing on the Earth at the equator, how about:

GMm/r^2 - N = m*v^2/r

Sorry for the confusing post earlier, I meant mass times the centripedal acceleration. Remember the normal force (N) is still relevant here because the Earth is physically pushing the person away from the center. Ok now, which of the terms in my equation should go to zero as the Earth spins faster and faster (person becomes more and more weightless)? Or, if it helps, imagine the Earth is spinning just fast enough and the person's feet JUST leave the ground, then what term will be zero?
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top