Where Is Zero Gravity Between Earth and Moon?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on identifying the point between Earth and the Moon where gravitational forces cancel each other out, resulting in zero weight for an object. It clarifies that the ratio of the Moon's gravity to Earth's gravity (1/6) does not directly translate to the distance from the Moon where this balance occurs. Instead, participants emphasize the need to use gravitational force equations to accurately determine this point. Ultimately, the calculated position for zero gravity is found to be 1/10 of the total distance from the center of the Moon. This highlights the importance of mathematical analysis in understanding gravitational interactions in space.
nilic1
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
Where on an imaginary gravitational field line between Earth and moon, a mass would have no weight neither due Earth nor due to moon?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you mean when the gravitational force is zero, then you just need to equate

FEarth and FMoon for a mass m and solve for the distance.
 
rock.freak667 said:
If you mean when the gravitational force is zero, then you just need to equate

FEarth and FMoon for a mass m and solve for the distance.

Thanks for your reply. This was meant to be a straight forward answer without any calculation.
Since the gravity of the moon is 1/6 that of Earth , does it follow that the distance where there is no gravity on the object is 1/6 the distance between moon and Earth, starting off from the moon?
 
Last edited:
No, that 1/6 figure is only true about the surface gravity of the Earth vs. the surface gravity of the moon. It is not applicable everywhere in space.

I think you really do need to set up an equation using the equation for gravitational force. At least, I can't imagine solving it any other way.
 
Redbelly98 said:
No, that 1/6 figure is only true about the surface gravity of the Earth vs. the surface gravity of the moon. It is not applicable everywhere in space.

I think you really do need to set up an equation using the equation for gravitational force. At least, I can't imagine solving it any other way.

Thanks for you answer. I did as you both suggested. The final answer is 1/10 the total distance starting from the centre of the moon.

Regards
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Calculating Tidal Range (Gravitation)
Replies
12
Views
2K
Where between the Moon and the Earth is the gravitational potential=0 ?
Replies
21
Views
3K
Calculating the Distance of a Zero Gravitational Field Between Earth and Moon
Replies
2
Views
2K
Gravitational Field Multiple Choice Help
Replies
5
Views
2K
Finding distance between Earth and Moon in gravitational fields
Replies
5
Views
2K
Gravitational Field Variation of Disc Orbitating Earth
Replies
4
Views
1K
I The gravitational center of the Earth
Replies
3
Views
2K
Ratio of the Magnitude of gravitational force?
Replies
5
Views
5K
Gravitation sum related to Centripetal Acceleration
Replies
5
Views
3K
Gravitational equipotential multiple choice problem
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top