Question

2.) An astrologer claims that the position of Saturn in the sky has a strong influence on human life, so you decide to calculate whether Saturn could possibly exert a significant gravitational effect on humans on Earth.

Find:

a. the gravitational force of Saturn on your body, and for comparison,

b. the gravitational force of a friend sitting next to you. The mass of Saturn is a well-measured astronomical value — please look it up.

The distance between you and Saturn varies within a limited range — you can use any value within this range. For all other masses and distances, you can choose any REALISTIC values, given the context of the question. Before you calculate, list your chosen values here, including units and appropriate significant figures: mass of you: distance between centers of you and Saturn: mass of friend: distance between centers of you and friend: Now, find the answer to the initial question. Show your work completely (including rewriting any of the above values in the course of your calculations)

Answer 1

2)

M = mass of saturn = 5.7 x 10²⁶ kg

m = mass of me = 70 kg

r = distance between me and saturn = 1.2 x 10¹² m

gravitational force by saturn on me is given as

F = GMm/r²

F = (6.67 x 10^-11) (5.7 x 10²⁶) (70)/(1.2 x 10¹²)²

F = 1.85 x 10^-6 N

M = mass of saturn = 5.7 x 10²⁶ kg

m = mass of friend = 85 kg

r = distance between me and saturn = 1.2 x 10¹² m

gravitational force by saturn on me is given as

F = GMm/r²

F = (6.67 x 10^-11) (5.7 x 10²⁶) (85)/(1.2 x 10¹²)²

F = 2.24 x 10^-6 N