Weight of a man orbiting this given planet

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the gravitational force experienced by a man orbiting a planet with a mass of 0.58 times that of Earth and a radius of 0.57 times Earth's radius. The man weighs 1436.022 N on the planet's surface and has a mass of 82 kg. To determine the factor by which his weight is reduced at a distance of 3.5 Earth radii above the planet's surface, the gravitational force equation F = GMm/R² is essential. The correct approach involves substituting the appropriate values into the equation to find Fnew.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational force equations, specifically F = GMm/R²
  • Knowledge of mass and radius relationships in gravitational calculations
  • Basic algebra skills for manipulating equations
  • Familiarity with units of measurement in physics (e.g., Newtons, kilograms)
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the gravitational force equation F = GMm/R² in detail
  • Study the concept of gravitational acceleration on different celestial bodies
  • Learn how to calculate weight variations at different distances from a planet's surface
  • Explore examples of gravitational force calculations in astrophysics
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in gravitational calculations and the effects of mass and distance on weight in different planetary contexts.

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Homework Statement



The mass of one planet in a distant galaxy is 0.58 that of the Earth's mass , and its radius is 0.57 that of the Earth's radius.

What is Fnew, the factor by which the man's weight is reduced if he were orbiting the planet at a distance of 3.5 Earth radii above the planet's surface? i.e., Weight(3.5 Earth radii above planet's surface) = Weight(at planet's surface)/Fnew

I know that the man is 82kg and weighs 1436.022N on the surface of the planet.

Homework Equations



F= (M x m)/R^2


The Attempt at a Solution



I've tried doing .58/(.57+3.5)^2 times 82 and a few other things but I'm just not really sure how to solve this problem and it's been frustrating me for a few hours.

Thanks for the help!
 
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I think you are missing a G in that equation up there?

F_{g} = \frac{GMm}{r^{2}}

What is the mass of the planet, and it's radius? You should be able to solve for his weight floating above the planet with this information.
 
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