Problema Solution
the weight of the body is inversely proportional to the square of its distance from the center of the earth. a) given that body weighs 200 lbs on the earth's surfCe,express the number of lbs in its weight as a function of the no. of miles from the center of the earth. assume that the radius of the earth is 4000 miles. b) how much does the body weigh at a distance of 400 mi above the earths surfCe!??
Answer provided by our tutors
A) let say weight of a body is w
and distance from the center of the earth is R.
so w ∝1/R^2
w = k/R^2
where k is a constant.
when w = 200 lbs and R = 4000 miles
so k = wR^2
= (200)(4000^2)
= 3.2E9
therefore w = 3.2E9/R^2
B) w = ?, R = 4000 + 400 = 4400
w = 3.2E9/(4400^2)
= 165.289 lbs