Simple Gravity Question

How can we help?

agussen

June 01, 2021 15:10

Reference: Suppose two satellites that orbit the earth passes close to each other. Also, for a moment they are 100 m apart. Furthermore, the masses of the satellites are 300 kg and 20 kg. So, calculate the magnitude of the force of gravity between these satellites? (4.0 x 10 ^-11 N)

Hi everyone, I want to know if there is a specific value or equation that would tell me if the satellites would collide. If I know the mass, distance apart and gravity can I definitively say that they will or will not collide, do I need an equation to prove it, is there a minimum value for gravity to make this true?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

New post

1 comment

Kevin S.

June 03, 2021 20:46
1

Comment actions Permalink
I haven't completely learned hs physics, but the question isn't asking anything about whether they will or will not collide, and for this problem, they won't.

Google gives the formula of force = <gravitational constant>*mass1*mass2/<distance, or r>^2

So the force would be <gravitational constant> * 6000 kg^2 / 10000 m^2

Google gives a gravitational constant of 6.67408 × 10^-11 m³ kg^-1 s^-2

So the force between these satellites is 4.004448 * 10^(-11) m*kg/s^2

= 4.004448 * 10^(-11) Newtons

Post is closed for comments.

Simple Gravity Question

Didn't find what you were looking for?

1 comment

Didn't find what you were looking for?