Question

a 5.3 x 10^12 kg satellite is 1,800 m from another satellite that has a mass of 3.5 x 10^8 kg. what is the gravitational force between the satellites

Answer 1

Gravitational force is calculated as follows:

F = GMm/R^2, where F is the force of gravity; G is gravitational constant = 6.67408*10^-11 m^3/kg.s^2; M is first mass = 5.3*10^12 kg; m is the second mass = 3.5*10^8 kg; R is the distance between the two masses = 1,800 m.

Substituting;
F = (6.67408*10^-11)*(5.3*10^12)*(3.5*10^8)/1,800^2 = 38,211.17 N ≈ 38.2 kN