Regarding g forces on Moon and Earth

AI Thread Summary
An object thrown upward will reach a maximum height that is inversely proportional to the gravitational acceleration (g). For the Moon, with g at 1.6 m/s², and for Earth, with g at 9.8 m/s², the object will travel six times higher on the Moon than on Earth when launched with the same initial velocity. The calculations initially presented incorrectly assumed zero initial velocity and used an inappropriate equation for height. The correct approach involves using the relationship between initial velocity, gravitational acceleration, and maximum height. Ultimately, the conclusion is that the object will ascend significantly higher on the Moon due to its lower gravitational pull.
rum2563
Messages
89
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


For the same initial upward velocities, how many times higher will an object travel above the lunar surface (g=1.6 m/s^2) than above the surface of Earth? Assume air resistance is negligible.


Homework Equations


delta Y = v1y^2 X 10^2 + 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (10)^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I assumed that initial velocity should be zero for both Earth and Moon.
I specified time to be 10 seconds.

For Earth:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 9.8 s^2 X (100)
= 490 m

For Moon:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 1.6 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 1.6 s^2 X (100)
= 80 m

So am I doing this right? Because I think my final answer would be that the object would be 6 times higher above the lunar surface than the surface above the Earth.

Somebody please help me. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You do not want to know the ratio of heights at 10 seconds, you want to know the ratio of heights at the highest points.

HINT:At the highest points, what are the velocities of the objects? Also, since you don't have a time value, do you have some relation you can use that doesn't involve time?
 
rum2563 said:

Homework Statement


For the same initial upward velocities, how many times higher will an object travel above the lunar surface (g=1.6 m/s^2) than above the surface of Earth? Assume air resistance is negligible.


Homework Equations


delta Y = v1y^2 X 10^2 + 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (10)^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I assumed that initial velocity should be zero for both Earth and Moon.
I specified time to be 10 seconds.

For Earth:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 9.8 s^2 X (100)
= 490 m

For Moon:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 1.6 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 1.6 s^2 X (100)
= 80 m

So am I doing this right? Because I think my final answer would be that the object would be 6 times higher above the lunar surface than the surface above the Earth.

Somebody please help me. Thanks.
Well, yes, the object rises 6 times higher on the moon than on the earth, but you've arrived at that answer incorrectly using an incorrect equation for delta y , which should read delta y = Vo(t) - 1/2gt^2, and Vo is not 0, it is given that Vo= Vo in both cases). But rather than get involved with time, what is the equation that relates V, y, and g?.
 
Last edited:
ur answer is correct
 
rum2563 said:

Homework Statement


For the same initial upward velocities, how many times higher will an object travel above the lunar surface (g=1.6 m/s^2) than above the surface of Earth? Assume air resistance is negligible.


Homework Equations


delta Y = v1y^2 X 10^2 + 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (10)^2
Are you suggesting that gravity pulls things upward?


The Attempt at a Solution



I assumed that initial velocity should be zero for both Earth and Moon.
I specified time to be 10 seconds.
?? If the initial velocity of something thrown upward is 0, it won't go any distance up, either on the moon or earth!

For Earth:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 9.8 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 9.8 s^2 X (100)
= 490 m

For Moon:
delta Y = 0 X 10^2 m/+ 1/2 X 1.6 m/s^2 X (100)
= 1/2 X 1.6 s^2 X (100)
= 80 m

So am I doing this right? Because I think my final answer would be that the object would be 6 times higher above the lunar surface than the surface above the Earth.

Somebody please help me. Thanks.
You are answering the wrong question. What you calculated here is the distance a dropped object will fall in 10 seconds on Earth or moon (taking positive y to be downward).You were asked how much farther upward an object will go on the moon rather than the Earth if thrown with the same upward velocity.

Taking positive y to be upward, v_0 to be the initial velocity, the formulas you need are:
v= v_0- gt
y= v_0 t- (g/2)t^2

An object will go upward until v= 0 and its maximum height will be y at that t. For each value of g, set v= 0 and solve the first equation for t. Then use that t to find y.
 
If you analyse the problem using energy, you will see that the maximum height is inversely proportional to g.

AM
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top