Physics problem help...?

Question

An interplanetary spaceship passes through the point in space
where the gravitaional forces from the sun and the earth on the ship exctly cancel.

a.) how far from the center of the earth is it?

b.) what, if anything, happens to the spaceship when it passs through the point described in part (a)?

for a.) the answer is 2.59x10^8 m ---> we just don`t know the solution....

Answer 1

force = GMm/R^2
R is the distance from center
let sun's mass be S earth's mass be E
now,accoring to the given condition
GSm/d1^2 = GEm/d2^2 (d1+d2 = dist between earth & sun,d2 is dist between space ship and earth)
(S/E) * d1^2 = d2^2
data available:
S--mass of sun
E--mass of earth
d1+d2=distance betwwen earth and sun
apply this to get a quadratic equation and solve

Answer 2

Use the formula F = Gm1m2/r^2; calc for both earth and sun, and then make them equal to each other (cause you're saying the force is zero). Solve for r.

b) depends on which way the rocket is going. If it's going TO the sun, it's going to speed up after it passes through this point in space. If it's going to the earth, it's going to slow down, after going through this point. Because the gravity of the sun is greater than the gravity of the earth, and this will affect the momentum p = mv, of the space craft. At the EXACT point that the forces are zero, all I can say is that the potential energy of the space craft will be at it's lowest. But you wouldn't notice anything. You say "passs", so I don't exactly know what you mean. You asked, I answered.

HEY, at the exact point you talk about, the ship still is gonna have momentum, so it's still gonna keep moving. Somebody above got it wrong.

Answer 3

part use you gravatational force equation twice, once to account for the mass of earth and other for the mass of the sun. make both equation equal each other. cancel out the mass of the ship and the gravitational constant G. This is will give you an equation with two variables, the distance ship to sun and distance ship to earth. Next look up the distance from the earth and sun, this should the total distance of both distances. From here is should be simple algebra to get the answer.
In part b when the ship hits this point and comes to a complete stop the ship will not move in either direction because of equal pull on both sides.

Answer 4

Let the distance from Earth to sun be A

Let the point be x away from Earth

Then, Gm/x^2 = GM/(A-x)^2

where m is mass of Earth and M is mass of Sun.

Answer 5

common use the gravitational formula.take distance as x(unknown).
now let it be
force by the sun = force by the earth

so by the formula G x M1 x M2 divided by distance square. this is the best way to do this question. please i need points . i request you to sewlect it as the best answer..............