Question 14.
Solve the following example.
The masses of the earth and moon are 6 x 1024 kg and 7.4x1022 kg, respectively. The distance between them is 3.84 x 105 km. Calculate the gravitational force of attraction between the two?
Use G = 6.7 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2
Answer:
Gravitational force of attraction between two bodies of masses m1 and m2separated by a distance of R is given by;
G = Gravitational constant;
Figure below illustrates the question well;
Putting values of m1 =
;
m2 = 
;
R = 
= 
m (since 1km = 1000m);
Therefore the gravitational force of attraction between the earth and the moon is
.
