Any two spherical objects gravitationally attract each other with force F grav =

Question

Any two spherical objects gravitationally attract each other with force Fgrav= , where M and m are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance from the center of one object to the center of the other. The potential energy of the system isUgrav= -; the old formula U=mgh does not apply.

Two astronomers are figuring out the speed with which a spherical meteor of mass m1 will crash into the Earth, which has mass ME and radius RE. To make the calculation simpler, the astronomers assume that the meteor starts at rest a distance D from the center of the Earth, where D is several times bigger than RE. They also neglect air resistance and treat the Earth as fixed. But the astronomers disagree about how to proceed from there.

Astronomer 1:

Explanation / Answer

Which astronomer will correctly find the speed with which the meteor hits the Earth: B. Astronomer 2 only

Neglecting air resistance, the speed with which the meteor hits the Earth doesnotdepend on:: B. m1

As the meteor gets closer to the Earth, the gravitational force on it: A. Increases

Which of the following best describes the transfer of energy as the meteor crashes: D. Kinetic to heat

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