Question

Two space capsules, each with a mass of 1700 kg, are put into orbit 30 m apart. (a) What gravitational force exists between them?

Answer 1

Answer:

$2.0\cdot 10^{-7}\:\mathrm{N}$

Explanation:

We can use Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation to solve this:

$F=G\frac{m_1m_2}{r^2}$, where $F$ is force, $G$ is gravitational constant $6.67\cdot 10^{-11}$, $m_1$and $m_2$ represent the masses of both objects, and $r$ represents the distance between their center of masses.

Plugging in our given values, we have:

$F=6.67\cdot 10^{-11}\frac{1700\cdot 1700}{30^2},\\F=\fbox{ 2.0\cdot 10^{-7}\:\mathrm{N} }$(one significant figure).