Universal Graviatation Problems Accelerated Physical Science

Mr. Mahlum

1. Calculate the force of gravitational attraction between two bowling balls, each having a mass of 6.5 kg, that are placed 3.6 meters apart from one another.

2. Calcualte the force of gravitational attraction between two automobiles, a Volkswagon Super Beetle (m=720 kg) and a Jeep Cherokee (m=1750 kg), if they are parked 25 m apart form one another.

3. What force prevents the automobiles in problem #2 from moving towards one another?

4. If the two automobiles were relocated into outer space and placed at the same distance 25 meters apart, would they accelerate twoards one another? If so, how would the acceleration of the VW compare with that of the Jeep?

5. Calculate the force of gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon.

6. Calculate the force of gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun. .

7. A physics professor, Dr. Know it All, has a mass of 82 kg. Calculate the professor’s weight (i.e. the force of gravity acting on the sutdent) using the equation Fw=mg.

8. The Earth has a mass of 5.98 x 10²⁴ kg. Calculate the force of gravitational attraction between Dr. Know it all and the planet Earth using the equation F = G (m₁ m₂ / d²)

(Note d is the distance between the center of gravity of the two objects. The Earth has an average radius of 6.37x10⁶ m – See picture)

9. How does your answer in problem #1 compare to your answer in problem # 2?

10. A quick thinking student points out to Dr. Know it All that the force of gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two objects. Therefore, the student argues, if Dr. Know it All climbs a mountain, he will increase the distance between himself and the Earth’s center of gravity, and the the force of gravity acting on the Dr. will also decrease (that is the Dr.’s wieght will decrease).

If the Dr. climbs to the top of Mount Everest (6100 m above the Earths surface), by how much will his weight decrease?