The perfect spot between the Earth and the Moon

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on finding the equilibrium point between the Earth and the Moon where their gravitational forces balance. The user has derived a complex equation for the distance from the Earth (R_E) but seeks clarification on simplifying it to match a solutions manual's format. Another participant suggests multiplying the numerator and denominator by the square root of the Moon's mass (√M_M) to achieve the desired equation. The user successfully understands this simplification after receiving guidance. The conversation highlights the importance of algebraic manipulation in solving physics problems.
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Homework Statement


There exists a spaceship orbiting between the Moon and the Earth. Find the perfect spot where the gravity due to Earth is equal to the one caused by the Moon. I have already solved for the ratio ## \frac {R_E}{\sqrt{M_E}} = \frac {R_M}{\sqrt{M_M}} ##. ## R_E ## is the distance between the spaceship and the Earth while ##R_M## represents the distance between the ship and the Moon. Likewise ##M_M## and ##M_E## are masses. The next step in my solutions guide is ## R_E = \frac {(R_E + R_M)\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_E}+\sqrt{M_M}} ##. I don't understand how they got to that.

Homework Equations


1) Correct answer ## = R_E = 3.46 * 10^8 ## meters
2) Mass of the Moon ##=7.347*10^22##
3) Mass of the Earth ##=5.98*10^24##
4) Distance between Moon and Earth ##= R_E + R_M = 3.844*10^8##

The Attempt at a Solution


Using ratio I solved for in "The problem statement, all..." I tried to isolate ##R_E##
##R_E = \frac{R_M\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}} ##
From 4) from part 2 "Relevant equa..." I get that ##R_M = 3.844*10^8 - R_E##
Therefore ##R_E = \frac{(3.844*10^8 - R_E)\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}} ##
Thus ##R_E = (3.844*10^8)(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}}) - R_E(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}}) ##
##R_E + R_E(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}}) = (3.844*10^8)(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}}) ##
##R_E(1+(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}})) = (3.844*10^8)(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}}) ##
##R_E = \frac{(3.844*10^8)(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}})}{1+(\frac{\sqrt{M_E}}{\sqrt{M_M}})}##
While I did get the correct answer, my equation is so complicated. How do I turn it into the one given by the solutions manual?
 
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Apart from using that specific number instead of ##R_E+R_M##, there is nothing different about your solution. All you have to do is multiply top and bottom by ##\sqrt{M_M}## to get the book answer.
 
PeroK said:
Apart from using that specific number instead of ##R_E+R_M##, there is nothing different about your solution. All you have to do is multiply top and bottom by ##\sqrt{M_M}## to get the book answer.
Now I see it! Thank you so much!
 
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