Problem 9-56 Vector Gravitational Field - Part 3 - A

A spaceprobe is at the position shown in the figure. Use components to determine the gravitational acceleration (magnitude and direction) of the probe due to the effects of the earth and moon. The masses of the earth and moon are \(6.0 \times10^{24}\; kg\) and \(7.4 \times 10^{22} \; kg\), respectively.

Accumulated Solution

Correct. The force on m is just the "weight" of \(m\). But this force arises because of the presence of \(M\) and there is another form of the force on \(m\) due to \(M\) at a distance \(r\). It is:

(A)   \(F = GM\)

(B)   \(F = GMm/r^2\)

(C)   \(F = GmM/r\)