Question

** Please answer the question without using Calculus. This is an algebra based Physics course. Thank you! **

Isaac Newton guessed at the concept of his law of universal gravitation. However, he did consider other possibilities, too. Imagine we take the acceleration due to gravity to obey an inverse-cube rather than inverse-square equation: a = GM/r³. Again, M is the mass of a spherical, homogeneous body, r is the radial distance from the center of that body to any point where the acceleration is desired, and G is a constant.

Consider a human making a circular orbit around the earth inside a space station 400 km above the surface of the planet. Recall that earth's own radius is R_E = 6400 km.

a) If the person weighs 100 pounds on the ground, then how much would he weigh while inside the space station?

b) Calculate the orbital speed and period.

Please explain all steps if possible. Thank you!!

Answer 1