The maximum speed you can walk on the Mars

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum speed an astronaut can walk on the surface of Mars, utilizing known physical constants and parameters related to Mars. The problem involves gravitational forces and motion on a planetary surface.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate walking speed using two different radii: one for Mars and another for the leg. Some participants question the validity of these approaches and the definitions of variables used in the equations.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the setup and the equations presented. There is a focus on clarifying the definitions of variables and the implications of using different radii in calculations. No consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of potential confusion regarding the equations and the parameters used, particularly concerning the radius in the context of walking speed versus gravitational calculations. Additionally, one participant points out a possible error in the exponent used in the gravitational equation.

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Homework Statement



You are an astronaut-in-training for the first mission to Mars by humans. You are about to go into a Mars simulator and need to know the answers to the following questions to complete the simulation correctly. You already have memorized basic information about Mars such as its mass (6.42x1023 kg), its radius (3.37x10^6 m) and its rotation period (its “day”) which is 24.8 hours. You also know that Newton’s universal gravitational constant (“big G”) is 6.67x10^-11 Nm2/kg2.

What is the speed at which you will be able to walk on the surface of Mars?

Homework Equations


Fnet=N-mgM=mv2/r
vM=(gM r)(1/2)

F=GMMm/rM(1/2)=mgM
gM=GMM/rM1/2

The Attempt at a Solution


use r= radius of the Mars, I got vM=3.56 km /s
use r= radius of my leg=0.7 m, I got vM=1.6 m/s.

Which one is right?
 
Last edited:
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Your problem refers to "the following questions" but there are none. What are questions?

AM
 
r is for the radius of Mars, your first equation uses it as the radius of the arc of the circle you move over.
 
What limits the speed that you can walk on the surface?

Also the denominator is r^2 not r^1/2 in:

F=GMMm/rM2=mgM
gM=GMM/rM2

AM
 

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