The moon is approximately 377,000 km from the surface of the Earth when the moon

Question

The moon is approximately 377,000 km from the surface of the Earth when the moon is directly overhead.

a.) What is the force that the moon pulls on a 100 kg person when the moon is directly overhead?

b.) What is the force that the Earth pulls on the 100 kg person?

                                Given:        G=6.67 X 10-11 (N-m2/kg2) = Gravitational Constant

                                                    Mass of Moon = MMoon = 7.342 x 1022 kg

                                                    Mass of Earth = MEarth = 5.98 x 1024 kg

                                                    Radius of the Earth = REarth = 6.38 x 103 km

Explanation / Answer

a) Force exerted by moon on the person, F = G*M_moon*m/r^2

= 6.67*10^-11*7.342*10^22*100/(3.77*10^8)^2

= 0.00344 N

b) Force exerted by earth on the person, F = G*M_earth*m/Re^2

= 6.67*10^-11*5.98*10^24*100/(6.38*10^6)^2

= 980 N

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